Vintage Wine Label
These vintage wine label pieces identify your decanters with classic spirit and bottle names while adding authentic period character to the dining table.
Vintage Wine Label
Beyond hanging bottle tickets, buyers will also find cellar bin labels designed to slot into wine racks or bins to mark out specific vintages and varieties like hock, sherry, marsala, and claret. The forms range from simple stamped silver shapes to elaborate vine leaf designs and glazed earthenware or creamware ceramic tablets.
What varies in quality
The distinction between standard examples and the finest items rests upon the crispness of the pierced or engraved lettering and the presence of clear hallmarks indicating notable silversmiths. Pieces featuring heavier gauge silver and well preserved suspension chains command greater appreciation.
Design complexity further separates the selection, with naturalistic motifs like chased vine leaves demonstrating higher artisan skill than plain geometric shapes.
Vintage Wine Label Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for vintage wine label 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, glazed earthenware, and enamel materials spanning from the eighteenth century to the mid twentieth century.
William Barrett II·Elizabeth Morley·Thomas Wallis II·Mappin And Webb
The Vintage Wine Label Glossary
- Decanter label
- A small tag hung around the neck of a decanter to identify the beverage inside. These are frequently fashioned from silver and suspended by a matching chain.
- Bin label
- A small tablet used in a wine cellar to identify the contents of a specific storage bin or rack. These often appear in glazed earthenware or creamware.
- Silver gilt
- Silver that has been coated with a thin layer of gold on its surface. This technique provides a warm golden tone to silver items like vine leaf decanter labels.
- Creamware
- A refined earthenware body with a pale yellowish cream coloured glaze, developed in the eighteenth century. It forms the base for durable cellar bin tablets.
- Hallmark
- An official mark stamped onto precious metals to indicate the standard of purity, the assay office, and the date of production. These stamps help verify the period of sterling silver pieces.
Vintage Wine Label: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I hang a decanter label?
Most silver decanter labels come equipped with a small link chain that slips easily over the neck of a decanter, resting just below the stopper.
Ensure the chain length allows the label to hang flat against the shoulder of the glass without slipping down the body.
What drinks do these labels name?
Traditional labels name fortified and table wines commonly served from decanters, including port, sherry, madeira, claret, hock, marsala, and moselle.
You will also encounter labels dedicated to spirits such as rum, whisky, and brandy.
How do I clean antique silver labels?
Clean sterling silver labels gently with a soft microfibre cloth to remove dust and tarnish without abrading the engraved details.
Avoid harsh chemical dips, particularly on pieces with enamel work or delicate gilt surfaces.
Are ceramic bin labels waterproof?
Glazed earthenware and creamware bin labels feature a protective vitreous coating that resists moisture found in traditional cellars.
This finish keeps the painted or impressed lettering legible despite damp storage conditions.