Enamelled Wine Labels

摘要

Ornamental, detachable wine labels of enamelled copper were introduced in the mid- 18th century, when these items were classed as 'bottle tickets.' Prior to the 19th century wines and other alcoholic liquids were sold in kegs, from which the customers decanted the contents as desired. For smaller quantities customers brought in their own plain bottles, to be filled individually in the retail shops. The decanters and bottles therefore needed to be labelled. The costliest labels, of engraved silver, were typically in small escutcheon or shield form, slightly curved to align with the bottle contours.