History: Other materials

Bottles in media other than glass are known, particularly in the 17th century, when glass was an expensive and scarce commodity. Leather bottles, jugs, and other vessels are sometimes associated with ale and beer but many will have been used in the service of wine. A large group of serving bottles is known, made in London, of white tin-glazed earthenware (termed delftware). They are onion shaped with handles and vary from about half to 1½-bottle capacity. Their most charming feature is the calligraphy, usually opposite the handle, for ‘claret’, ‘Whit Wine’ (sic), ‘sack’, or, more rarely, ‘port’ or other wine. They are frequently dated (from c.1630 to 1660) and the legend is often embellished with a curlicue.