The popularity of using as well as collecting decanters has increased over the last few years, although many people have always used them, there is a new interest in them especially for younger generations. Whether it is from the influence of television programs, media, films or just the idea that one can buy something of good quality and workmanship that is handmade for less than it’s modern made counterpart. The decanters in the photo above are primarily mid to late Georgian (English) in date, mid 18th to early 19th century, with gold gilding in the incised and engraved pattern decorations, and the ones in the far background being from the Regency era to Victorian, early 1800s to 1830s. I would consider them to be quite a trophy to have in my collection. I do have many Georgian era decanters which I use, but they are not so grandly decorated!

If you are a beginner collector and user of these handsome items, there are many books available and small pocket handbooks with illustrated charts of decanter bottle shapes, neck decoration and stopper shapes that will help you to understand the evolution of styles, which will then help you to date them, as well as determine the country of origin. In some of my future posts on decanters I will be showing you some of these as well as examples of decanters from later dates, meaning the second half of the 20th century, which by the way has been a very popular design era for collecting for quite some time. The photo above shows decanters that are Regency to early Victorian in style and the drinks glasses are late Georgian to early Victorian.

The two small decanters in this photo are typically Edwardian in style. My reason for showing this photo, and not one of just decanters, is to illustrate as well as to whet your appetite for other items that would be of use and interest to add to your drinks area at home. Vintage and antique cocktail shakers, measures, strainers and punch or long cocktail spoons for mixing can add a bit of flair and fun to a drinks party! But the main thing to remember, buy what you think to be visually pleasing to you. It doesn’t matter if it is from 1770, 1870, or 1970. The questions are: Do I like it? Does it give me pleasure looking at it? Will I enjoy using it? And theses are the questions to ask yourself when you purchase not only a decanter but anything for you home.