Early 20th Century ‘Leather Bottle’ Style Glass Wine or Water Carafe c.1900

This is a classic example of a wine or water carafe in a form called a ‘Leather Bottle’ or ‘Leather Bag’, probably made at the beginning of the 20th century.

The top of the carafe is conical in shape, narrowing as it approaches the neck. The latter is decorated with a circumferential ruffled trail of rigaree. The body is approximately oval in cross-section, widening out as it approaches the base. It is decorated on one side with a band of trail; the top has been crimped to give protrusions, and below this, it is milled with vertical ridges. This is probably intended to represent a seam.

The thickened base is polished flat, with a broad polished pontil in the centre. It is unmarked.

Carafes like these were produced by numerous factories in the UK from around 1880 until about 1920. The most recognisable are those that were made by James Powell & Sons (Whitefriars) from around 1880. This design is believed to be based on old leather bags or flasks made of leather or skin that were used to carry wine. Companies such as Strömbergshyttan in Sweden produced this style into the 1950s; the Strömbergshyttan examples are taller with a circular base.

There are some good examples of this type of carafe on page 342 of ‘The Decanter – Ancient to Modern’ book by Andy McConnell. 

It has a height of approximately 20.2cm and a diameter across the rim of about 5.2cm. The base has a measurement of 12.5cm long by 11.0cm wide.

It has a liquid capacity (to the shoulder) of 700ml.

It has an unwrapped weight of 420g.

It is in excellent condition, with no chips or cracks.