Antique 19th Century Hedges & Butler Sealed Bottle

Antique 19th Century Hedges & Butler Sealed Bottle

Code: 10237

Dimensions:

H: 22.2cm (8.7")Di: 9.5cm (3.7")

SOLD

ANTIQUE BLACK GLASS, MALLET SHAPED SEALED BOTTLE
With applied "Hedges & Butler" glass seal
English, 19th Century
Measures: 22.2 cm high x 9.5 cm in diamater at the foot

A beautiful, mallet shaped bottle of English origin. Nice very dark green colour, excellent condition, air bubble inclusions, full original gloss sheen to the glass. No chips. Bears the applied seal of Hedges & Butler - the importers and bottlers of fine wines and spirits. This firm, which is still in existence, was first established in 1667 (they were were first granted a Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria in 1837).

In the days when glass bottles were expensive, sealed bottles were used to denote ownership and encourage the return and reuse of bottles. Hedges & Butler would have filled such bottles as this from casks and barrels in their cellars for onward delivery to clients. A deposit would have been paid on their return for refilling.