Is ‘Rare’ quite common?

Is ‘Rare’ quite common?

I have come to the conclusion that the word ‘rare’ when applied to antiques is somewhat over-used and even more so when vendors are describing wine labels that are being offered for sale on Ebay.  Too often when having started a search for wine labels on Ebay I find myself looking at a long list of labels many of which are described as ‘rare’. I will therefore try to only to use the word ‘rare’ when thinking of how I like my beef cooked!

So, this blog is about two labels which I shall describe as ‘Not often encountered’………………….

I do feel justified in using the expression ‘Not often encountered’ in this blog because  I have searched the very fine book, ‘Wine Labels 1730-2003, A Worldwide History’ http://winelabelcircle.org/books and barely find more than a dozen or so labels engraved in ‘Script lettering’ amongst the 1400 illustrated labels.

Lisbon by Phipps/Robinson 1804

 

Madeira by John Reilly 1821

Labels are usually lettered in block capitals and the lettering either pierced or more commonly cut into the silver so that a black wax like substance (usually referred to as niello) could be set into the gap. To ensure the niello adhered to the silver the lettered space was roughened to provide a key. Nowadays many labels have lost the niello and the roughened keying is very evident. Where script lettering is used the example’s I have seen use both upper and lower case.

I have often wondered why labels were not more often engraved with script; the skill of engraving with fine flowing script can be seen in many other examples of decorative household items. Clock faces are often fine examples of script lettering where the clockmakers name and location are on a silvered or brass plate.

Perhaps the popular niello on the silver was fashionable or simply the most practical and black set against silver is very clear. The first label I have shown above, Lisbon, is finely engraved and there does not seem to be any evidence of a niello filling. However, the second label, Madeira, does look as though there might have been a niello filling. One further thought that has crossed my mind is that I would be surprised if the labels are isolated examples. I am sure that they must have been part of a set and if that is the case the respective owners would have ordered other labels in script lettering.

So, if there any collectors reading this and know of similar labels I would be very pleased to see examples!

Ebay update.

Of the various wine labels that have been recently listed on Ebay I am having to concede that one label deserved to be classified as rare. I have pasted in the listing below the photograph. Surprisingly there were only two bidders, the winning bid was £216.99.

Antique Solid Silver

BOTTLE LABEL

FALERNUM

Dates to about 1775

with the maker`s mark - W.T, for

WILLIAM TURTON

An excellent, medium large sized bottle

label with the very rare title -

FALERNUM

Falernum is a sweet syrup used in Caribbean and tropical

drinks. It contains flavors of almond, ginger, lime, and

sometimes vanilla, cloves, and allspice.

It is used in cocktails in a manner similar to orgeat

syrup or can be drunk on the rocks. Wikipedia

-------------

SUPERB ORIGINAL CONDITION

NO FAULTS

------------

Width:- 47 millimetres / 1.84 inches.

Height:- 40 mms. / 1.57 ins.

Total weight:- 11.2 grams / 0.36 ounces.

 

A ‘Mountain’ label by Margaret Binley, (described as rare), attracted 20 bids, to see the label click on the price, below, and scroll down the new page £176.99

Two interesting 1871 labels by William Summers, Curacoa raised £113.00 and the other label, Gin made £128.99.

To see all completed sales of silver wine labels on Ebay click here;

In my last blog I referred to a copy of ‘The Book of the Wine Label’ by Norman Penzer that had failed to sell at £3.50 on Ebay. There at least 10 copies on offer at ‘Buy it Now’ prices on Ebay which range in price from £2.80 to £137.64………………….to see the books click here

Auctions; In my last blog I mentioned the following sale next month, Rupert Slingsby has now told me there are 74 lots.

Woolley and Wallis at Salisbury are holding a silver sale on the 30th October, Rupert Slingsby, the silver specialist at W. & W. has told me that there probably 50 lots including bin labels.
To view the labels;click here

Stand by to bid!

Before closing I will suggest to any readers who are looking at this blog and have an interest in wine labels, you should seriously consider joining the Wine Label Circle, it is only a thirty-pound annual subscription. There is a useful website, http://winelabelcircle.org/, here you can access all the *digitized journals of the Wine Label Circle, (these date back to 1952), and perhaps best of all, there are two meetings where you can meet others with similar interests.

Of course, in addition to the above there are regular emailed newsletter and an annual printed copy of the Wine Label Circle Journal.

Happy collecting!