Understanding Antique Wine Bottles

An authoritative work on this subject is long overdue. Since the publication of Lady Ruggles-Brise's classic work in 1949 there has been an enormous growth in interest in the subject, inspired both by the research and the "collector digging" of the past two decades. This book will be widely welcomed as an updating of the information on the subject.

The author has avoided an exhaustive account both of the history of bottle making and the question of genealogy in relation to sealed wine bottles. His emphasis is on the evolution of the bottle and the recognition of forms. To this end his text is accompanied by numerous line drawings and black and white photographs illustrating the evolutionary changes from the early 17th century to the end of the 19th century.

Although the work concentrates on English bottles, a detailed section on European bottles will be of help in the tricky matter of attribution. An illustrated section on seals is backed up by the listings of seals from Ruggles-Brise, which the author has updated, adding crests and seals recorded since 1949. By virtue of its clear, concise text, the wealth of illustration and information on prices and auction house records, this book cannot fail to be an invaluable reference both to the serious collector as well as the newcomer to the hobby.