Bottle ticket, "HOCK."

Dateca. 1750

Maker Sandilands Drinkwater

MediumSilver (Sterling)

DimensionsL: 2 1/32"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1971-94

Description"HOCK" bottle ticket
Label TextThe earliest silver bottle tickets or wine labels, as they are commonly called, date from the second quarter of the eighteenth century. They are a function of the increased use of a variety of wines and the development of the glass decanter. They enjoyed a considerable popularity between 1750 and 1850. Their marking was voluntary until 1790, and most examples before that date are unmarked or, as in this instance, only partially marked. The Marking Silver Plate Act of that year specified that "bottle tickets," regardless of weight, were no longer exempt from being assayed and marked.

The most prevalent early type is of escutcheon form, either chased with fruited grape vines, as here, or plain, as in CWF accession 1971-93. Six other similar bottle tickets by Sandilands Drinkwater were acquired with this example (accessions 1971-95 through 1971-100). Bottle tickets of this type undoubtedly influenced the production between 1753 and 1756 of enameled ones of escutcheon form at the Battersea factory, handsomely decorated with designs by Ravenet, as well as Staffordshire examples.

"18 Silver bottle Labells" are listed with the "Plate, in the Pantry" in the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg in the 1770 inventory of the estate of Lord Botetourt, who served as governor of Virginia between 1768 and 1770.

Inscribed"HOCK"
MarkingsMaker's mark and lion passant on back.
ProvenanceSotheby & Co., London, 1971