Exceedingly Rare
Very rare English half-size mallet with handle. Free blown black glass (mid olive green) unusual with applied scrolled and thumbpiece handle. Deep kickup with sand pontil. Sagged base. Short tapering sides to rounded swooping shoulders into long tapering neck (with great lean to the right). Snapped-off fire-smoothed lip with tooled pouring lip. Full original surface sheen. Rarely seen for sale.
At the time this bottle was made, decanters in clear glass had begun to replace bottles at the table. The pouring lip reflects this transitional period in drinking habits, and is a feature rarely seen on serving bottles. A very similar serving bottle was sold by Christie’s on 13 February 1990, lot 34 and another is illustrated by Willy Van den Bossche, Antique Glass Bottles (2001), page 72, plate 12. See also the damaged example from the Sheelah Ruggles-Brise Collection sold by Bonhams on 20 June 2023, lot 56.
Item Date: 1730's
Measurement: 7" to the top of the handle; 4.4" base diameter
Material: Glass
Item Condition: It has ubiquitous cracks where the handle joins body, however the handle has never been detached. An L-shaped crack to body near bottom handle attachment is approximately .5" long in total (some of which is hidden behind join). The crack near upper handle attachment is J-shaped and about 0.7" across to left of handle join (and goes through it where is can't be seen) then to top of lip. Half the length of these cracks is hidden by the handle joins; the bottle is otherwise excellent.
Price: $4,250
SKU 843-483
For More Information, Please Contact David Hillier at 978-597-8084 or email drh@aaawt.com.
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