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Author Topic:   Bottle Tags
Sgt Silver

Posts: 41
Registered: May 99

iconnumber posted 04-23-2016 05:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Sgt Silver     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
According to the Wine Label Circle, an international organization based in England, bottle-tickets began being seen in 1735. They have been made from silver, gold, pewter, plated metals, enamels, china, pottery, glass, mother of pearl, ivory, bone, teeth and other materials. The Circle has documented labels with hundreds of names of wines, spirits, liqueurs and cordials, as well as sauces. Labels have been made in many countries.

Few American labels were made before the mid-19th century, and English labels were occasionally shipped here. George Washington is known to have bought silver English labels. In the US they are often referred to as decanter labels, liquor labels or bottle tags. I haven’t yet seen one from the US that was made with the name of a wine.

What I have found are labels with appealing designs made in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Here are three by George Shiebler; each by a different artist, apparently.

A small one: RYE

Retailed by and marked Theodore B Starr: CLARET

A classic Shiebler art nouveau design: WHISKEY

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[This message has been edited by Sgt Silver (edited 04-23-2016).]

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Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 04-24-2016 02:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Good post.

I wonder what other bottle tags/tickets/labels members might share with us?

Here is a better look at the Theodore B. Starr mark.

And here is a 1883 patent paper for a bottle tag.

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Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 04-26-2016 04:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You got me looking at bottle tickets......

I haven't bumped into any Shiebler examples to add.

Here's one by Paul Storr:

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Sgt Silver

Posts: 41
Registered: May 99

iconnumber posted 05-02-2016 08:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Sgt Silver     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here are two from Tiffany that don't seem to have similarity:

Not much of Art Nouveau in this design:

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ahwt

Posts: 2334
Registered: Mar 2003

iconnumber posted 05-02-2016 10:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ahwt     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for this post. The Shiebler tag for wheat whiskey is particularly intersecting.

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Sgt Silver

Posts: 41
Registered: May 99

iconnumber posted 05-05-2016 05:06 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Sgt Silver     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yes, AHWT, that's the first one I bought. The design was captivating.

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Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 05-08-2016 10:39 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Sgt. Silver,

You mention the London based Wine Label Circle. I assume you maybe a member.

Are other SSF members also Wine Label Circle members?

I know nothing about Wine Label Circle... The Wine Label Circle being UK based, I have always assumed their focus was on UK wine labels. Do they know/do much with American labels?

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vathek

Posts: 966
Registered: Jun 99

iconnumber posted 05-10-2016 12:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for vathek     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Wine Label Circle Org - Labels

One of the attractions of labels is the many different aspects they display. These include:

Name or title on the label, ranging from wines like CLARET to obscure ones like MOUNTAIN, sauces from the well-known SOY to the obscure ZOOBDITTY MATCH, medicines, toiletries, boudoir labels.

Material from which the label was made, such as silver, silver plate, enamel, china or mother-of pearl, but not paper labels designed to be stuck on bottles – that is a separate field of collecting.

Maker of the label, though this is usually known only for silver and some enamel labels.

Where made - marks on silver labels can show the maker, the town where they lived and the date it was made. For labels in other materials, the design may give a clue.

The designs of labels are a particular attraction ranging from simple rectangles to ones with a profusion of decoration and shape. Often they reflect the changing styles and designs seen in larger items of silver or other materia

....


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Sgt Silver

Posts: 41
Registered: May 99

iconnumber posted 05-12-2016 09:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Sgt Silver     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Scott,

The Wine Label Circle is indeed in England. Membership is about 150, two-thirds of whom are in the UK. There are 21 members in the US, 11 in Australia and a few in Canada, France, South Africa, Germany and Japan.

One WLC focus is the makers, with Sandylands Drinkwater and the Batemans being among the most highly regarded; high design is also appreciated. They have also recorded several hundred wines & spirits names on their List, including variations.

English silversmiths had been quite prolific before Americans got into the business, and attention to American labels has been modest.

Yes, I joined a few years ago, but haven't had much contact with them yet. Perhaps after I make another post or two on this thread, I will direct their attention to it. Or I might send photos and a write-up to them for publication in their beautiful semi-annual Journal.

Am I the only one on the Silver Salon Forums who has seen appeal in wine labels, do you suppose?

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Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 05-16-2016 09:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Sorry Sgt Silver,

I missed your post until today. Thanks to you I have a growing awareness/interest in bottle tags.

Most members hold their associations fairly close....so I don't really know.

Perhaps you could share this thread and any other posts with them, then maybe other WLC members will join the SSF discussions.

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Sgt Silver

Posts: 41
Registered: May 99

iconnumber posted 05-30-2016 03:44 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Sgt Silver     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here are two from Whiting - similar, yet different. I hope those who know more about silversmithing will be able to explain how they were made.

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Polly

Posts: 1970
Registered: Nov 2004

iconnumber posted 05-30-2016 06:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Polly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Stamped, then acid etched?

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agleopar

Posts: 850
Registered: Jun 2004

iconnumber posted 06-01-2016 09:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for agleopar     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A+ Ms. Polly, go to the head of the class!

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Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 06-02-2016 02:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'm surprised that no one else has tags to share??

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Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 06-03-2016 07:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

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dragonflywink

Posts: 993
Registered: Dec 2002

iconnumber posted 06-07-2016 12:22 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for dragonflywink     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Nothing so lovely as the others shown here, but for three years in the '80s, a friend gave me liquor for Christmas, with appropriate new English silver labels - of course I had to get decanters for them, also picking up a bit earlier fourth. Please forgive the awful quick & dirty cell phone pics...

Richards & Knight, London, 1985

Ari Norman, London, 1986

Richards & Knight, London, 1987

C.J. Vander, Ltd., London, 1967

Received this nice mid to late 19th century electroplate label, by John Gilbert of Birmingham, as part of a mixed lot in a Christmas gift exchange last year:

~Cheryl

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Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 06-07-2016 09:04 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thank you Cheryl.
Wonderful gifts. smile

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Sgt Silver

Posts: 41
Registered: May 99

iconnumber posted 06-12-2016 04:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Sgt Silver     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks, Cheryl. The scallop shell with Vodka has particular charm.

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dragonflywink

Posts: 993
Registered: Dec 2002

iconnumber posted 06-12-2016 05:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for dragonflywink     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Was a seashell collector back then, thought he did well in finding that one - it is definitely my favorite...

~Cheryl

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Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 06-25-2016 06:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Forum member Patrick Street, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, wrote an article in 2010 for the SSA on Wine Labels. He has very graciously permitted me to post the following.

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Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 06-25-2016 06:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
See Patrick's article on Fortunato "Lucky" Rocca.

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Sgt Silver

Posts: 41
Registered: May 99

iconnumber posted 07-07-2016 08:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Sgt Silver     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Wonderful group of labels - a volume in itself.

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vathek

Posts: 966
Registered: Jun 99

iconnumber posted 07-15-2016 02:09 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for vathek     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Birmingham, 1851, George Unite. I'm curious to know how people pronounce his last name.


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