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ID #SA1245038
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£165
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Antique Georgian Engraved Amethyst Glass Mell Decanter C1830
For sale by Exhibit Antiques
for sale €193     $210
£165
Exhibit Antiques

Exhibit Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Mar 2019
Browse dealers 269 items
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Id #SA1245038
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Antique Georgian Engraved Amethyst Glass Mell Decanter C1830

19th century
For Sale by Exhibit Antiques
Description

Technical Description

A 19th-century amethyst glass Mell decanter or wine carafe.

Original mother of pearl"Brandy" cork stopper, the decanter is beautifully engraved with fruiting vine, with a tapering neck and flared rim. Polished pontil.

We have an article on 19th-century Mell decanters, which you can find on our website or by selecting the link below.

Identification of Antique Glass | The Mell Glass Decanter

A small excerpt from the article- "Mell decanters were trailblazers in the world of glassware, being the first in Britain to be predominantly crafted in vibrant colours. They came in various sizes, ranging from the compact 0.5-litre "personal" versions to the impressive "double magnums" holding up to 3 litres. However, these sizes are rare; the most common variant is the "magnum", which typically holds around 1.5 litres."

Date & Origin

England, c1830. Period of William IV.

Condition

Excellent, age-related wear as shown. Some minor light scratches to the body as expected for its age, no chips, cracks or restoration, clean and clear inside. Cork has a piece broken off the bottom, but still in full working order.

Dimensions

Height without stopper: 20cm

Height with stopper: 24.5cm

Diameter: 17cm

Date of Manufacture

Exhibit Antiques has dated this Georgian Amethyst Glass Decanter to the Regency era.

Independent Date Check ID 09715266
Dealer's Item DateRegency era
Sellingantiques DateRegency era
Sellingantiques agingItem 180-210 years old
Test ResultsPassed dating check
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE REGENCY ERA:
Ring of scratches on the base: natural friction from long table use.
Polished pontil mark in the base concavity: free-blown glass finishing.
Wheel-engraved fruiting vine pattern: hand engraving on the body.
Mother-of-pearl stopper finial inscribed Brandy: typical drinks labelling.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1245038
Dealers Internal Reference
2025111405
Description
Technical Description

A 19th-century amethyst glass Mell decanter or wine carafe.

“
Original mother of pearl"Brandy" cork stopper, the decanter is beautifully engraved with fruiting vine, with a tapering neck and flared rim.
Exhibit Antiques

Polished pontil.

fig 1. A Georgian deep amethyst glass mell-shaped decanter featuring wheel-engraved grapevine motifs and an oval mother-of-pearl stopper inscribed with Brandy.
fig 1. Antique Georgian Engraved Amethyst Glass Mell Decanter C1830

We have an article on 19th-century Mell decanters, which you can find on our website or by selecting the link below.

Identification of Antique Glass | The Mell Glass Decanter

A small excerpt from the article- "Mell decanters were trailblazers in the world of glassware, being the first in Britain to be predominantly crafted in vibrant colours. They came in various sizes, ranging from the compact 0.5-litre "personal" versions to the impressive "double magnums" holding up to 3 litres. However, these sizes are rare; the most common variant is the "magnum", which typically holds around 1.5 litres."

fig 2. A Georgian deep amethyst glass mell-shaped decanter featuring wheel-engraved grapevine motifs and an oval mother-of-pearl stopper inscribed with Brandy.
fig 2. Antique Georgian Engraved Amethyst Glass Mell Decanter C1830

Date & Origin

England, c1830. Period of William IV.

Condition

Excellent, age-related wear as shown. Some minor light scratches to the body as expected for its age, no chips, cracks or restoration, clean and clear inside. Cork has a piece broken off the bottom, but still in full working order.

Dimensions

Height without stopper: 20cm

Height with stopper: 24.5cm

Diameter: 17cm

Date of Manufacture

Exhibit Antiques has dated this Georgian Amethyst Glass Decanter to the Regency era.

Independent Date Report ID 09715266
Dealer's Item DateRegency era
Sellingantiques datingRegency era
Sellingantiques agingItem 180-210 years old
Test ResultsPassed dating check
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to the Regency era:
Ring of scratches on the base: natural friction from long table use.
Polished pontil mark in the base concavity: free-blown glass finishing.
Wheel-engraved fruiting vine pattern: hand engraving on the body.
Mother-of-pearl stopper finial inscribed Brandy: typical drinks labelling.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1245038
Dealers Internal Ref
2025111405
Exhibit Antiques
Exhibit Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Mar 2019

Specialists in 18th & 19th century antique glass

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Exhibit Antiques Profile Page

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A Georgian deep amethyst glass mell-shaped decanter featuring wheel-engraved grapevine motifs and an oval mother-of-pearl stopper inscribed with Brandy.
1 / 4
Archive I A Georgian deep amethyst glass mell-shaped decanter featuring wheel-engraved grapevine motifs and an oval mother-of-pearl stopper inscribed with Brandy.

Antique Georgian Engraved Amethyst Glass Mell Decanter C1830

Archive II A Georgian deep amethyst glass mell-shaped decanter featuring wheel-engraved grapevine motifs and an oval mother-of-pearl stopper inscribed with Brandy. View II
Archive III A Georgian deep amethyst glass mell-shaped decanter featuring wheel-engraved grapevine motifs and an oval mother-of-pearl stopper inscribed with Brandy. View III
Archive IV A Georgian deep amethyst glass mell-shaped decanter featuring wheel-engraved grapevine motifs and an oval mother-of-pearl stopper inscribed with Brandy. View IV
Enlarged Archival View
Telephone 01501 228 282
Location
Glasgow
Scotland
United Kingdom
Verified Since Mar 2019
Items For Sale 269
Items Sold 2,200
Exhibit Antiques
Exhibit Antiques
Verified Since Mar 2019
View Dealer Info
Location: Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Verified
Mar 2019
For Sale
269
Sold
2,200
A Georgian deep amethyst glass mell-shaped decanter featuring wheel-engraved grapevine motifs and an oval mother-of-pearl stopper inscribed with Brandy.
Antique Georgian Engraved Amethyst Glass Mell Decanter c1830
Ref: SA1245038
A Georgian deep amethyst glass mell-shaped decanter featuring wheel-engraved grapevine motifs and an oval mother-of-pearl stopper inscribed with Brandy.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Archival Detail
Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.
Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.
Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.
Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectDecanters
  • Period19th century
  • StyleGeorgian
  • MaterialAmethyst Glass, Mother of Pearl
  • ColourDeep Purple
  • MotifsGrapevine engraving, Mell shape, Oval stopper label, Tall narrow neck

This Regency-period Georgian mell decanter is made of deep purple amethyst glass with a polished pontil and stands 24.5 cm high with the stopper in place. The body features wheel-engraved grapevine motifs around the wider base, tapering into a narrow neck with a flared rim. An original oval mother-of-pearl stopper with an inscribed cork label reads "Brandy" in gothic script and is mounted with a metal collar and oval handle. Age-related wear includes minor light scratches to the glass body and a broken piece at the bottom of the cork. Positioned on a sideboard top, this decanter serves as a practical wine carafe or spirit container in a gentleman's library, dining room or home bar. The deep amethyst colour complements traditional interiors, while the historical design fits alongside period tableware or glassware collections. The piece requires gentle hand washing and functions as both a decorative display item and a usable serving vessel for spirits.

A mell decanter is a specific shape of glass spirit or wine vessel introduced during the 18th and early 19th centuries, characterized by a broad, flattened bulbous body and a long, slender neck. The term mell derives from the traditional English word for a honey pot or mallet shape.

Decanters from this period were crafted from hand-blown lead glass infused with metallic oxides, such as manganese or cobalt, to achieve deep colours like amethyst, blue, or green. Stoppers were often made from ground glass, bone, or mother-of-pearl mounted on cork.

Authentic pieces usually exhibit a snapped or polished pontil mark on the base, slight asymmetric variations from hand-blowing, and surface wear consistent with age on the contact points. Wheel-engraved decorations like grapevines and period typography on labelled stoppers also indicate authenticity.

Position the decanter on a timber sideboard, brass drinks tray, or styled bar cart where natural light can pass through the tinted glass. Displaying it alongside clear crystal or complementary antique glassware creates visual depth and contrast.

Clean the glass interior using lukewarm water and mild soap, avoiding hot water to prevent thermal shock and clouding. Dry thoroughly with a lint-free cloth and ensure the stopper mechanism remains dry to preserve organic materials like cork or mother-of-pearl.
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