WINE AND ITS HISTORY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 255, 9 August 1933, Page 8

WINE AND ITS HISTORY

GHOSTS OF MANY THIRSTS. The ghosts of a thousand lordly thirsts of history lurk at tire Vintners’ Hall, in Upper Thames Street, East London, where a unique loan exhibition illustrating—with drinking vessels, books, and documents —the history ol wine in England, wa® lately assembled. Mr Francis Berry, the honorary organiser, had gathered a display of absorbing interest. The layman stood bemused before the amazing array of materials which contained drinks from 8.0. to D.O.R.A. Gold, silver, glass, horn, wood, “treem,” leather—they wink and flash from their cases. There was a beautiful glass goblet lent by the King, which Queen Elizabeth is said to have used. There was a Greek tasting vessel in lovely pink glass; they used it in Cyprus m the

fifth century B.C. From the peat bogs of Ireland was dug the thirteenth-century “mether,” and Gargantua himself would gaze respectfully at a wassail, or “lambs wool” bowl of lignum-vitae wood, the largest known, the capacity being 5} gallons. That respect would kindle again when confronted by the giant claret bottle, with a capacity of 28 ordinary bottles, described lovingly in the catalogue as “a triumphant example of the glass-blower’s craft.” It was an erstwhile Duke of Edinburgh who had it filled to the top. Beside it in charming contrast, were two tiny bottles, filled, corked and labelled, exactly similar to those made for the Queen's doll’s house. And there was the very gilt cup mentioned by Pepys, with four hells hanging from it, which wa® Henry VIII.’s gift to the Worshipful Company of Barbers —whose loan it is—in 1540. Probably the most intrinsically valuable single exhibit on view, it is worth, at a modest estimate, £IO,OOO.