How were antique wine bottle tags used?

These tags hung around the necks of glass decanters using thin silver chains to distinguish between dark red and white wines at the dining table. Cellar bin versions sat separately on wooden shelving to mark the specific wine storage locations.

What materials are these labels made from?

The majority of pieces utilise sterling silver or solid silver, occasionally enhanced with enamel or silver gilt. Earthenware, glazed ceramic, and creamware appear primarily among the bin labels designed for wine cellar organisation.

How do I date a silver wine label?

Assay office hallmarks stamped directly onto the silver surface provide the specific year of manufacture and the town where the piece was tested. stylistic shifts from Georgian escutcheons to Victorian vine leaf motifs offer further chronological clues.

Are original chains usually included?

Many silver labels retain their matching silver suspension chains, though some survive independently. Checking the attachment loop and chain links helps determine if the components share the same period.