Code: 4116
Very large bottles are usually almost spherical, and called 'carboys' Very large format examples are seldom bottle-shape.
This bottle is hand blown and has a considerable amount of sediment attached to the inside. The sediment is probably from wine that was kept in it. At this point I feel like writing "sedimentary, my dear Watson", but any Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts will probably be quivvering with rage at my mis-quotation.
The bottle appears to hold about 11 litres or just short of 15 bottles and the bottle of claret I have imaged beside it is of standard full-bottle size. It would make a substantial statement of style in any situation.
Wine bottles can be quite easy to date because they tend to follow a standard progression of design. This bottle was made towards the end of hand-blown manufacturing days and a dating of about 1800 is probably secure. The patent for mould-blown bottles was taken out by Henry Ricketts of Bristol in 1821
Date: c.1800
Dimensions: 19.7" 50 cm. high
