A RARE LONDON DELFTWARE WINE BOTTLE CIRCA 1640-60 |

the white body splashed in manganese.

Ginsburg & Levy, New York, bearing label
Cora Ginsburg Estate
Northeast Auctions, New Hampshire, August, 2003
Vogel Collection no. 727.1

In overall good condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
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Michael Archer illustrates a similar example in Delftware, The Tin-Glazed Earthenware of the British Isles, London, 1997, p. 267, cat no. E. 2, and cites two further recorded examples with powdered-manganese decoration, one in the Museum of London, illustrated by Frank Britton, London Delftware, London, 1987, p. 121, fig. 68; and another at Colonial Williamsburg, illustrated by John Austin, British Delft at Williamsburg, Williamsburg, 1994, p. 67, fig. 10, where the author notes that although the large number of excavated sherds, similarly decorated in manganese, suggest that this type of decoration was popular in the 17th century. Their rare survival suggests that they were less likely to be preserved than the wares with more elaborate decoration.

The present bottle can be compared with the only two known surviving powdered manganese ground bottles with Royalist subjects, one inscribed 'C.R' surmounted with a crown, sold, Christie's, London, June 2-3, 2015, lot 89, formerly in the Collection of the Hon. Simon Sainsbury, sold, his sale, Christie's, London, June 18, 2008, lot 73; and another inscribed 'HMR' for Henrietta Maria, Queen consort of Charles I, sold, Bonhams, London, December 5, 2007, lot 88, illustrated by Jonathan Horne, English Pottery and related works of art, London, 2008, p. 6, no. 08/04. 

White bottles of the same form as the present example, decorated with blue inscriptions and dated 1640(?), 1642 and 1644 are illustrated by Leslie B. Grigsby, The Longridge Collection of English Slipware and Delftware, Vol. 2, London, 2000, pp. 246-248, D220-D222, where the author notes that biscuit delftware bottles of this shape have been excavated at Platform Wharf, Rotherhithe in Southwark.