subject: Tips On Finding Out Whether The Decanter You Own Is Genuine [print this page] An antique decanter is a valuable piece of art to own at home, one that can make a person real proud. You could have easily gotten it from family members or you could have bought it in an exotic antique shop that you found yourself in during your travels abroad. However you are not sure whether what you have in your hands is the real deal or a generic piece of glass decanter.
Luckily there are many ways to really find out. Of course you need to do your research and learn more about the crystal decanters in the process. Knowing more about the properties and benefits of a decanter will come in handy during your research.
To get started, there are a few places that allow you to do proper research, so don't worry if you don't know anyone personally who really knows about decanters.
Decanters used to be very famous and commonplace in the 18th and 19th centuries where they were used heavily by the aristocracy and the rich folks to pour the wines into the glasses of their guests. The more expensive and exquisite your decanter turned out to be, the higher was your popularity with the posh crowds of the times.
One of the best ways to get started is by using the well known Decanters 1760-1930 book by David Leigh. This book has over 80 different color illustrations that depict various decanters of the old times. It also traces the various stages the decanters have gone through during the centuries. It describes how styles have changed and how decanters of different materials came to be. I have this book at home, and personally I find it truly a valuable resource for all my research.
You can also learn more about decanters from the book called Decanters by Andy McConnell in 2004. With over 600 pages, this book is a real treat for the eyes. While it describes glass decanters in Europe, it also goes in depth about decanters in the US throughout the history. The books also shows the various stages and changes that decanters have gone through during the years. You might own a strange shaped decanter, and having one of these two books will help you easily identify what you have in your hands. This is when you will easily learn whether what you own is a genuine antique crystal decanter or a regular, mass made piece of glass.
