ON SALE!
ORIGINALLY $5,995.
NOW ONLY $4,995.
An extremely rare, rare, rare and important profusely engraved privateer decanter, mid 18th century, of squat mallet form with a tooled, folded lip and rough pontil scar on base, English or continental origin (not all 18th century English glass was glass of lead!)
Provenance Bonham’s sale June 4th, 2008.
Decanter is very beautifully engraved all over and in superb condition with only some surface wear and light inner haze in bottom. There are about 30 known privateer engraved wine glasses of this period. Some have commanded prices over $20,000. On the other hand; there are only 6-7 know surviving privateer decanters of this period. Extremely rare offering and the centerpiece of any advanced collection.
Decanter still retains the Bonham’s sale tag and it will be included. We have a period blown glass stopper that fit’s the decanter nicely and will include if the buyer wishes. We have a few more photos available for serious interested buyers.
Below is the description from the 2008 Bonham’s catalog:

An engraved privateer claret decanter
circa 1750
Possibly French or Belgian, of soda metal, the shouldered form decorated with a simulated wine label inscribed CLARET suspended from a chain around the neck, the reverse with a two-masted ship portrait and inscribed Succefs to ye Good Intent/Jas Brooks Commanr, folded rim, 25cm high
Footnotes
A similarly engraved claret decanter bearing the same inscription but with its neck severely reduced, is illustrated by John Shuckburgh Risley, 'Sea-power under George III, illustrated on Contemporary Glass', The Burlington Magazine, Vol.35, no.200, November 1919, p.202 and p.204. This is now in the collection of A.C.Hubbard together with a matching wine glass (see Ward Lloyd, A Wine-lover's Glasses (2000), p.17 and p.94, pl.132).
The 'Good Intent' is recorded by D.Powell, Bristol Privateers and Ships of War (1930), p.306. She had 15 guns and weighed 180 tons. In May 1793, under the captaincy of Cornelius Smith, she was engaged in battle with a French privateer and was eventually taken as a prize some 3 months later by the privateer Marsellois
The afore mentioned decanter with its “reduced†neck that was later in the AC Hubbard collection was “restored†by adding the neck top from a similar, lesser important decanter, and covering the join with a silver band. Then adding a period blown glass stopper.
Although restored, it was a very important acquisition and was one of AC’s favorites. A photo of AC and Alan Milford holding and discussing it appears on page 17 of the book “A Wine Lover’s Glasses..†and again pictured on page 94.
Here is a link to the Bonham’s listing online:
https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/15959/lot/301/
Price is firm.
Serious inquiries only.
Thanks for looking.

Antique Glass