FEATURES ARCHIVE

A special collection of wine-related accessories from a distinguished private collection, many of them with provenance to royal banqueting services, will take center stage this April in New York’s sale of A Marriage of Collections: The Property of Dr. Julius and Dena K. Tarshis.

Known as consummate historians and scholars, Dena and Julius Tarshis were passionate collectors of 19th century decorative arts. They sought to share their works and knowledge with others, generously loaning their objects for museum displays and playing a strong curatorial role in a number of exhibitions. Divided into four main categories—19th century European and Russian glass, European porcelain, walking sticks and furniture—the works on offer illuminate the Tarshis’ appetite for diverse, quality objects within each field. 

Among their impressive glass collection is an array of 19th century objects related to wine and spirit drinking. Once gracing the Russian royal banquet tables are a decanter and several goblets embellished with the royal cypher for Czar Alexander II. Each is intricately enriched in gold foil and enameled with a crowned ermine mantle enclosing his monogram. Other references to peerage and royal patronage include a decanter from the Narishkine Service and Baccarat glass tumblers, one with a portrait of Napoleon and another with the accolée arms of Belle and Bridgeman. Receiving a beverage in such a vessel could make you royal for the night, likewise your host or hostess could make a sly comment by handing you a French goblet decorated with the Prince of Love—the mischievous Cupid. 

Making our way across the channel to the United Kingdom, what “Burns night” would be complete without a dedicated decanter replete with a portrait of the Scottish poet Robert Burns himself?  Designed to spur table conversation, a number of the British works enclose sulphide cameos of notable historic and political figures like Prince Albert, William Pitt, and George IV.  Perhaps pouring a drink out of a John Ford & Co. cut-glass decanter set with a portrait of Shakespeare would inspire you to verse-- maybe “a rosé by any other name would taste as sweet?”—or at minimum compliment a night at the theater.