| If you have an antique decanter at home, you should | | | | guests. The more expensive and exquisite your |
| be mighty proud as not many people own a truly | | | | decanter turned out to be, the higher was your |
| unique vintage piece of glassware. You might have | | | | popularity with the posh crowds of the times. |
| gotten it handed down from generation to | | | | One of the best ways to get started is by using the |
| generation, or maybe left in a will by one of your | | | | well known Decanters 1760-1930 book by David |
| passed away relatives, or you might have bought it | | | | Leigh. This book has over 80 different color |
| at one of the antique shop that you came across in | | | | illustrations that depict various decanters of the old |
| your wandering abroad. But how do you know that | | | | times. It also traces the various stages the decanters |
| the piece you have at home, or you're holding in your | | | | have gone through during the centuries. It describes |
| hands, is truly the genuine antique glassware? | | | | how styles have changed and how decanters of |
| There are several ways to find out, some easier | | | | different materials came to be. I have this book at |
| than others. You will definitely need to research and | | | | home, and personally I find it truly a valuable resource |
| get familiar with the world of glass or crystal | | | | for all my research. |
| decanters. You need to have at least a basic | | | | Another authority on antique decanter styles and |
| understanding of what the decanter should do and | | | | types is Andy McConnell who wrote a book called |
| what types you can find - or no longer find - on the | | | | Decanters in 2004. This is a huge book at almost 600 |
| market. | | | | pages. It not only works its way through the |
| If you want to research your piece, you have a | | | | European glass decanters, but also describes many |
| good couple of places to get you started, so don't | | | | American pieces of art. In this book you can also |
| despair if you don't have anyone near you who is a | | | | trace the changes these pieces of glassware have |
| wine connoisseur to help you with it. | | | | gone through throughout the centuries. If you have a |
| Decanters used to be very famous and | | | | particular shape of decanter, you might find it in one |
| commonplace in the 18th and 19th centuries where | | | | of the pictures of this book or the previous one. |
| they were used heavily by the aristocracy and the | | | | Then you will know that your item is the genuine, |
| rich folks to pour the wines into the glasses of their | | | | real thing. |