Set of 4 enameled tin bottle labels from the late 18th century

Period: late 18th century
Dimensions: 6 x 4
Price: 400 per lot

These enamel plaques are labels for bottles or decanters, originally intended to identify the different types of liqueurs, spirits, or wines served at the table or kept in a cupboard. They most likely date from the 19th century , are hand-painted enamel on sheet metal, and are often associated with bourgeois or aristocratic tableware.

1. Label: “EAU DE NOYAU” Convex enamel plaque with polychrome floral decoration and red lines, typical of the 19th century. Inscription in black letters: “EAU DE NOYAU” .

Kernel water is a liqueur made from apricot or cherry kernels, very popular in the 18th and 19th centuries for its bitter almond aroma. Small chips visible on the rim. Original hanging hole. Floral decorations in excellent condition.

2. Label: "SILLERY"

Antique enamel sign, hand-painted floral decoration, inscription "SILLERY" in black capital letters. Hanging hole at the top right.

Sillery is a Champagne wine (from the eponymous vineyard near Reims) that was particularly renowned in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was sometimes found as a still wine before the widespread adoption of sparkling Champagne. In good condition, clean decoration. Some scratches along the rim, signs of normal use.

3. Label: "DRY MADEIRA"

Enamel sign made of sheet metal, decorated with colorful flowers, inscribed: "DRY MADEIRA" . Madeira is a fortified Portuguese wine, here in its "dry" , therefore less sweet than traditional Madeira. Served as an aperitif or digestif in the 19th century. It has several visible cracks and a chip around the hanging hole, but the enamel is generally well preserved.

4. Label: "DEAR"

Antique enamel plaque with scalloped outline, hand-painted floral decoration, lettering "CHERES". Probably a regional name or old spelling for a cherry liqueur, or an abbreviation for "cherry brandy" (kirsch).

It could also be a mistake for "CERISES", to be verified according to the local customs of the time.

Notable chips at the bottom and right, but the floral decoration is legible.

A charming set of hand-decorated enamel plaques, designed to adorn antique bottles or decanters. Each label mentions a typical 18th/19th-century beverage: Sillery, Eau de Noyau, Madeira sec, Chères. These decorative objects are a testament to a refined lifestyle.

Hand-decorated enameled sheet metal