Were these bottles meant for display or daily use?

These vessels served practical domestic roles on dining sideboards, desks and dressing tables during the early twentieth century. Decanters held spirits for evening hospitality, while smaller scent bottles contained personal perfumes. Today, collectors both display them as decorative objects and continue to utilise them for storing liquids. The robust nature of heavy lead crystal makes functional use entirely practical.

How can I tell an Edwardian bottle from a Victorian one?

Edwardian examples often display lighter, more restrained geometric cuts influenced by emerging taste, whereas Victorian pieces frequently feature heavier, deep-relief hobnail cutting or coloured glass bodies. Examining the silver hallmarks provides the most reliable date. Design styles also offer clues, with the Edwardian era leaning towards crisp symmetry and Arts and Crafts simplicity compared to the ornate eclectic tastes of the late nineteenth century.

Why do some bottles have locking frames?

Locking frames, known as tantalus sets, were invented to secure expensive spirits from unauthorised access in busy Victorian and Edwardian households. The wooden bar locks over the stoppers so the decanters cannot be lifted out. Only the owner holding the key could release the mechanism to pour a drink. This combination of security and display made them popular fixtures in gentleman's studies and dining rooms.