Pouring
Out the History
The Decanter: An Illustrated History of Glass from 1650
By
Andy McConnell
(Antique Collectors Club, $90)
Reviewed
by James Riswick
Up
until the mid-20th century, serving wine directly from its bottle
was considered quite the social faux pas. In fact, one British
military commander placed an officer on a disciplinary charge
in 1840 for pouring wine from the bottle rather than a decanter.
Although that crusty ol’ chap was probably a little loony,
it demonstrates the importance decanters used to have in the world
of wine and liquor. The Decanter: An Illustrated History of
Glass from 1650 serves as a comprehensive guide to the evolution
of this once omnipresent vessel and how it shaped modern glass
making. Set up as a reference resource for antique collectors
or those simply interested in the history of glass, this mammoth
575-page guide is filled with colorful high-quality photographs
of various decanters and other pieces of glass art. If there was
a college course on the subject, The Decanter would probably
be the required reading, as it is immensely thorough and detailed
in its information—usually describing specific examples.
This is understandable considering author Andy McConnell spent
more than seven years to compile the book’s information
(he originally planned on taking only six months). A former rock
music journalist and TV production manager, McConnell grew interested
in the topic when he was dealing in antiques and began focusing
specifically on glass. Today, he is considered one of the world’s
primary experts on the subject. Even if you’re not particularly
fascinated by the history of decanters, the often striking pictures
are enough to keep your attention. These colorfully ornate wine
and spirit holders are reminders of a classier time, and certainly
seem to serve as inspiration for today’s increasingly elaborate
and decorative bottles.
| P091106 |
(Updated:
09/14/06) |
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