How do I clean a cloudy decanter?

Residue inside vintage glass requires gentle treatment using warm water and specialist cleaning beads rather than harsh abrasives. Avoid submerging silver-collared pieces entirely in water to protect the adhesive securing the metal mount to the glass.

Are these decanters safe for daily use?

Most antique spirit decanters function well for serving wine and liquor during dinner or on a sideboard. Check that the silver collar remains firm and the glass shows no internal fractures before pouring liquids.

How do I date a silver collar?

British silver collars carry hallmarks that include a date letter indicating the exact year of assay and manufacture. Matching these stamps against official assay office records confirms the period of the piece.

Why do some decanters have matching labels?

Decanter labels identify specific contents like port or whisky, hanging from chains around the bottle neck. Original matched sets combining the jug and label from the same silversmith carry particular interest for collectors.