Featured Decanter question?

Now we need a gasogene.

 

You rang?

 

OK! Let's get this party started!

 

From that decanter, I'd chug almost anything!

 

I'm not a "glass" person, so please look into what I'm about to post. Years ago I received a lovely high-end antique crystal decanter, that formerly held madeira. I was told not to drink anything stored in it for long, as lead would leach out into the contents. I've never tried to determine whether the health concerns were valid. I just enjoy it for its beauty.

So, just a word to the wise - or possibly a bubba miseh. That's yiddish for an old wive's tale.

 

Hi,
I hear all the tales of lead and radioactive stuff coming from eating on old Fiestaware. I have eaten off it for over 80 years now and my last lead testing from 5 years ago is with in normal limits. The lead from decanters leaching out I can not swear to since I stopped drinking about five years ago. I do remember when it was against the law to use wooden cutting boards and had to start using the plastic ones
when it was discovered that the wood ones had less bacteria than the plastic ones.
greg

 

Lead will indeed leach into the liquid....the question being how much over how long a time,

 

It was the red Fiesta that caused problems; modern red isn't a problem and apparently the other colors weren't either. No idea about storing liquid in lead crystal. I'd imagine it's not a problem for short term use, but I wouldn't want to drink 20 year old hooch that had been stored in such a decanter for its entire life.

 

So I guess corn whiskey is clear, not brown. You never know what you'll learn here...

 

All unaged liquors made from grains are clear when first made; it's the barrel ageing that turns them colors.

 

I appreciate that, and besides, it's not for sale. I like to have an idea, though, for insurance. Thank you.

 

Well, my grandfather was from Kewanee, Mississippi, and I've been told that he appreciated a good drink. It wouldn't have been too surprising for him to have kept moonshine in a vessel like this. As I was growing up, my father was friends with a couple of sheriffs, and from time to time, he would come home with a gallon or so of moonshine. That's what he kept in this decanter, and that's why I do.

 

Love it. If I may inquire, what career/line of work did this grandfather go into? Just enjoying getting to know him a little. Don't answer if you'd rather keep it private.

 

Grandpop (Walter S. Brower) was an attorney, first in Birmingham, Al., later in New York, and finally back in Birmingham. He was born in Kewanee, Miss. in 1888, and sometime before WW1, opened a law office in B'ham. During the war, he was Judge Advocate of the 29th Div. AEF. His career took him to New York, where he was special assistant to the U.S. Attorney General for a time, and he later returned to B'ham. He passed away in 1962. Unfortunately, I have no memory of him.

 

Unfortunate indeed. Sounds like he was quite a guy. The decanter is a wonderful way to know him.

 

& have a drink to his memory !!!

If'n y'all kin git that there lock off !!

 

A suggestion about that was made here:
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/skeleton-key.32912/#post-435430

 

How many lead atoms could the crystal lose before it would also be altered in some way? I remember when the issue was lead pewter.

 

good question......

 

I think the OP has the key; that's how the likker got in there.