The seal of approval in silver auction

Bid for some fine wine bottle tickets at Bonham’s Home and Interiors sale, July 25 and 26

These silver wine labels were used to indicate which decanter contained which wine
The labels on display date from the early 19th century and are to be auctioned with estimates of £500-£700

Civilised life took a leap forward around 1730 when hosts began decanting their wine. It was so much more sophisticated to have an elegant decanter on the table than a plain old green bottle.

The problem being that without labels, how could you tell which was Vin de Grave, which was Hermitage?

Silversmiths had the answer ...