ACCESSORIES FOR WINE June to September 2008.

This collection of wine-related silver items would not only decorate your dining table but may even grow in value over the years – it's an area of antique and period silver which is constantly in demand from international buyers and wealthy wine connoisseurs, and hence good quality items may turn in to an excellent long-term investment (much like some fine wines!.

You will find ‘tastevins’, claret jugs, , bottle coasters, goblets, funnels, decanters and wine coolers, all popular with collectors today. Plus small items such as corkscrews or wine labels.

Back through the centuries wine was procured in barrels and required a great deal of attention before it could be brought to the table. Hence the need for ‘tastevins’ (used by sommeliers to check colour and density of wine from the barrel – these were mainly made in France), and decanters and funnels to filter and pour wine from the barrel for use at table.

Once on the table, decanters or bottles would be placed on silver coasters to protect the polished wood. In the Victorian era, the melding of the glass blower and silversmiths’ arts became highly developed in the form of what we now know as claret jugs. Some very unusual claret jugs may be found at the Vaults: for example both a duck and a parrot will be featured in the display.

Silver goblets and beakers are also popular with collectors: many were made in the 19th century using both embossing and engraving as forms of decoration, but some modernist examples from 20th century designers such as Stuart Devlin or Gerald Benney use more subtle devices such as surface texture to create interest.