Photo Credit: 925pa
Georgian Sterling Silver Port Label From 1819
Buy It Now Price: $125 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)
Pros:
-This beautiful sterling silver Port label, or wine tag, originates from Georgian England where it was made by the silversmith Charles Rawlings in London in 1819.
-This early 19th century liquor tag measures approximately 1.9 inches (4.8 cm) long by 1.1 inches (2.8 cm) tall (excluding chain) and weighs a robust 21.7 grams (0.7 troy ounces). The weight is notable because many wine tickets of the era only weigh half as much, making this specimen quite heavy in comparison.
-Port is a fortified, sweet red wine exported from Portugal – traditionally through the northern coastal city of Porto. Although the history of Port wine dates back to the Middle Ages, it skyrocketed in popularity among British nobility in the 16th and 17th centuries. By the time of the Georgian era in the late 18th to early 19th century, a wine cellar stocked with Port was de rigueur in any wealthy Londoner’s home.
-The Georgian period, which ran from 1714 to 1837, was a time of British ascendancy on the world stage. The country’s longstanding rivalry with France ended in British victory in both the Seven Year’s War and the Napoleonic Wars. British overseas holdings expanded during this era as well, with the glaring exception of the American colonies, which were lost in 1783.
-This Port label was made by Charles Rawlings, a London-based silversmith who worked from 1817 until the 1840s. Charles Rawlings specialized in silver smalls, producing exceedingly fine liquor tags, snuff boxes and grape shears. His snuff boxes, in particular, are quite coveted today.
-The hallmarks on this Port label are appropriate for the period, featuring the maker’s mark (CR), date letter (d), lion passant and sovereign’s head (George III). The only mark that is missing is the leopard’s head, which was applied to articles hallmarked in London. However, it isn’t too unusual to find small silver items from the Georgian era that omit the city hallmark.
-Georgian silver is dramatically undervalued in today’s antique marketplace. I recently featured a set of 8 Georgian sterling forks in the King’s pattern that were selling for hardly more than their scrap value. This antique silver Port label is a very similar bargain.
-At an asking price of only $125, this Georgian sterling silver Port label is ridiculously cheap. Think about it – just a little more than a hundred dollars gets you a 200 year old wine ticket that was handmade from heavy gauge silver in an exquisite style. The astute antique collector or investor lucky enough to buy this fine piece is all but assured of receiving a strong return on investment.
Cons:
-It is possible to buy more recent vintage British sterling liquor tags from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s for perhaps half the price of this Port label. I believe they are both great options and the choice between the two is simply up to the personal preference of the collector.
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