Until the 1670s wine was served at the table in jug or green glass bottle. The decanter started to appear after 1670 and usually took a jug form, it wasn't until the middle of the 1700s that decanters were seen in a form we are more familiar with now.
 
This is a large cut glass claret jug with a fabulous pointed stopper which is original to the decanter, the body of the jug is cut with three rows of oval cuts or thumb cuts, the stopper also has this cutter to the centre. The handle is applied by hand.
 
The jug or decanter has no chips or cracks and is in good condition, the stopper has a chip to the base as seen in photograph.
 
Dimensions: 35cm high x 16cm