Sold for A$600
WCG / Zeals (on applied seal). Pontil to base. (William Chaffin Grove, Zeals, Wiltshire, United Kingdom). Early Glass. Wine. Applied string rim type flat lip. Dark olive green. Pontil. 1 Quart. 290 mm. 1800s
Near Mint. (9). These were found in a cellar at the Cheffyn Grove family house at Zeals on the Wiltshire / Dorset border. In all, about 95 bottles were found, but not all were sealed, in fact there were some later examples with paper labels on them indicating they contained Sandeman Port. The Zeals were wrapped in newspaper, of those found about 25 were damaged with significant cracks and chips having probably fallen off the shelves when they were clearing out the cellars. This example is one of the few good examples that were recovered. Some contents residue type stain inside, this should soak out. Just a few scratches and minor marks. Couple of slightly scuffed scratches to the shoulder and a few thin deeper scratches in places. Crude pontil under the base, there is an associated burst bubble under the base as well. Grove was a lawyer who entered London’s Middle Temple (essentially a law school) in 1750 and was called to the bar six years later. He served as Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury between 1768 and 1774 and then for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis. He married his cousin, Elizabeth Grove, in October 1776 with the couple having no children. A wonderful bottle. Estimate: $400-600
