Antique Spirit Tags
Antique spirit tags are small silver labels hung from decanters to identify the contents, offering both utility and elegance on the sideboard.
Antique Spirit Tags
Antique spirit tags, also known as decanter labels, are small pieces of silverware designed to hang around the necks of bottles. They serve the practical purpose of identifying different contents such as rum, Madeira, sherry, gin, whisky, and brandy.
The examples seen on this page span several periods including the Georgian, Regency, Victorian, and Edwardian eras, alongside mid-century pieces. These items frequently appear as individual pieces, pairs, or matched sets.
Makers utilised various forms, ranging from traditional British designs to Scottish provincial variations and enamel highlights. Glass decanters also appear alongside the metal labels to complete the drinks service.
How they were made
Silversmiths constructed these tags primarily from sterling silver and solid silver, shaping the metal through cutting, stamping, and piercing techniques. Many examples feature delicate chains to suspend the label securely from the neck of a decanter.
Certain pieces incorporate enamel work to provide coloured titles or decorative borders against the silver background. Craftspeople in various regions, including Scottish provincial towns and Birmingham, applied distinct hallmarks and regional marks to their work.
Antique Spirit Tags Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for spirit tags among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings feature sterling silver, solid silver, glass, and enamel materials spanning the Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, and mid-century periods.
What varies in quality
Quality in these tags rests upon the crispness of the pierced or engraved lettering that names the spirit. Sharply defined typography and well-balanced proportions separate finer workshop output from simpler utilitarian items.
The presence of maker marks, clear hallmarks, and supplementary materials like enamel or matching suspension chains elevates the status of a piece. Complete sets and provincial Scottish origins also contribute distinct character to individual items.
Tiffany·Mappin and Webb
The Antique Spirit Tags Glossary
- Spirit tag
- A small metal label hung by a chain around the neck of a decanter to name the drink inside.
- Provincial silver
- Silverware manufactured outside of major assay office towns, often bearing distinctive regional maker marks.
- Hallmark
- An official stamp applied to precious metals indicating the standard of purity, the maker, and the year of assay.
- Decanter label
- An alternative term for a spirit tag, used to identify wine or spirits in glass bottles.
- Enamel
- A vitreous substance fused to the surface of the silver through firing, adding colour and decorative detail.
Antique Spirit Tags: Frequently Asked Questions
What are antique spirit tags used for?
These small silver pieces hang around the necks of decanters to distinguish between various alcoholic drinks such as sherry, brandy, and whisky.
They ensure guests and hosts know the contents of each bottle without needing to pour or taste the liquid first.
How do I care for silver spirit tags?
Silver tags require gentle cleaning with a soft cloth to maintain their polish and prevent the accumulation of tarnish over time.
Store them in dry conditions and avoid abrasive cleaners that might damage engraved lettering or enamel sections.
How can I tell the period of a spirit tag?
Assay marks, maker stamps, and stylistic details help determine the era in which a piece was produced.
Georgian and Regency examples often display different piercing styles and lettering compared to Victorian, Edwardian, or mid-century items.
Did spirit tags come in sets?
Silversmiths produced both individual tags and matched sets designed to label a collection of decanters uniformly.
Sets often share identical styling and chains, making them particularly useful for a complete drinks tray.