Dated Seal Magnum Squat Bottle I * M / Furnance / 1770

Origin: Welsh

Colour: Olive Green

Dimensions: Height 10.5in Width 5.0in

Lip: Applied string rim

Base: Kick-up with disc pontil scar

Source: Carmarthenshire. Wales

Condition: Excellent. Glossy surface with typical wear. There is one tiny (0.5cm) open air bubble near the footrim and a tiny (0.2cm) ding below the shoulder.
A 1.0 cm flake below the string rim and two small (0.5cm) flakes on the lip surface.

Special features: Rare dated seal Magnum-sized wine bottle with a well struck Welsh seal.
Seal: Inscribed I * M / Furnance / 1770
NOTES:

Background to I * M Furnance Seal
Furnance is believed to be a 'corruption' of the Furnace name on the seal during production. This seal has been attributed to John Morgan, Furnace, High Sheriff of Carmarthen in 1782 (reference Phillips Auctioneers, The Arts in Wales Catalogue September 2001). The Morgan family owned a tin works in Carmarthen, Wales. It is said, that, by a succession of marraiges, the Morgans of Furnace merged with the Morgans of Tredegar, now Lords Tredegar.

Provenance
Previously owned by a Carmarthenshire collector.

Reference to Similar Examples
Ward Lloyd, A Wine-Lover's Glasses, 2000, page 114, plate 174: Illustration of a sealed and dated double magnum 'I.W. 1772'
Roger Dumbrell, Antique Wine Bottles, Woodbridge, 1992, pages 346, fig. 172: Illustrates a sealed bottle 'TV 1771' attributed to Thomas Vyvyan of Trelowarren.
Willy Van den Bossche, Antique Glass Bottles, Antique Collectors Club, 2001, page 81, plate 25: Similar period example.