Decanter design

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Published 2010

In the last 250 years, decanter design has changed very little. Decanters tend to be made of clear glass, without a handle and with a stopper.

Spirit decanters tend to be square. It’s not usual to use these for wine, but it will certainly not harm the wine.

19th-century decanters often have a round bowl and a long straight neck. These are inexpensive and widely available.

18th-century decanters usually have sloping shoulders and straight or very gently convex sides.

Ship’s decanters have wide, splayed bases to make them more stable.

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