Page 55 - the 32nd UK SummerNational Auction
P. 55
201. ENGLISH SEALED SHAFT & GLOBE WINE BOTTLE.
David Walker Barker penned this description for BBR in 2012 (here precised): Sealed Shaft & Globe
characteristic of the 1660 to 1665 period, an early Restoration period
Wine Bottle 1660-1665. Height: 9.5ins, neck length 5.5ins, body width at widest 5 ins, base width, between resting
appearance, although the
top edge of the lip, typical and to be expected with a bottle of this age that has been used - noticeable but not detrimental. String rim profile is a superbly fashioned disc shape applied approximately just over half an inch below the lip top. finishing the bottle off perfectly - a most attractive feature. Neck is long slender and elegantly tapered towards the narrow lip profile
with an equally elegant junction with the bottle body. Rhe body profile is rounded tapeing inwards towards
initials GO’with
surrounding
border on the lower half of the seal. The letters clearly stamped whilst the border beneath the letters is not carried around to the top of the seal. Basal form is narrow and rounded at the bottle heel with narrow profile between resting points. The kick
the base - very
is a vague indication of some kind of impression left there by the die used to stamp the seal
form with a slightly asymmetrical
points 2.75ins, seal
diam. 1.75ins. Characteristics:
Glass colour a rich mid
olive green, characteristic
of the period. Lip/ neck section cracked off in manufacture and the lip profile slightly averted, lightly tooled into shape with a relatively narrow bore. There arr some very small and shallow de- corking flakes around the
indicates a carefully
entire bottle shape
Body seal shows the distinctive
crafted vessel.
up is shallow showing a distinctive pontil scar. The application of the pontil rod created a distinctive circular impression in the base of the kick up with small pieces of glass adhering and a
small chunk of glass flaked away upon removal of the pontil rod.
This is an excavated bottle the glass showing signs of wear. Some de vitrification, associated surface patination
and iridescence. This condition adds considerable appeal and sense of age to the vessel: it is not flaking as on some
excavated bottle of this age and remains stable. There is a chip on the neck of the bottle, no evidence of cracks, star/
spider cracks or bruising. Provenance: This rare sized shaft and globe style vessel is of English origin showing a classic English shape, a well-fashioned attractive and
elegant bottle standing proudly on display. Initials GO have not been identified yet so no original ownership can
be attributed to it. It has been suggested a tavern or a family crest may possibly sit above the letters as there
- certainly space for such a motif above the letters, but the poor impression
Sale end
means this cannot be confirmed. The bottle was shown at Irelands first bottle show held at the Spa
10,000+
Hotel, Lucan, 23rd May 2004, the owner believing it to be a Roman vase! He was a
keen Car Booterwho knew very little about bottles
and purchased the shaft and globe in a job lot
box of stoneware inks at a boot sale in Warwick, Gloucester, or Worcester,
around 1991. A pretty lucky find by anyone’s standard!
Sold by BBR in July 2012, lot 208, Hubbard Collection,
(Burton Vol. 2, p987, pictured ABC No. 21, p24 &
No. 24 cover p2, 2004. Lots of provenance & a rare offering on the
open market/ at a bottle show. For its age has to be 9/10? NR. £8,000-