PROVENANCE: BICKFORD APPLIED SEAL BOTTLES - NON DUBIO & G.B. SEALS
Bickford wine bottles with applied glass seals originate from the Bickford family estate: Dunsland House, Near Holsworthy in North Devon. The National Trust acquired Dunsland House in 1954 with major restoration to the house being completed in 1960. On the night of 17th - 18th November 1967, the house was destroyed by fire and subsequently demolished because the walls were deemed unstable.
The Bickford seal with sinister embowed arm and scimitar was established on early wine bottles since circa. 1700 until circa. 1800. During the period c.1760-1800, the embowed arm with scimitar appeared surmounted by the Latin words 'Non Dubio' on the tall cylinder-shaped wine bottles, whilst the initials G.B. (for George Bickford) appeared beneath the embowed arm and scimitar on seals attached to the shorter squat cylinder bottles. Glass seals applied to magnum and double-magnum bottles c.1760-1800 are usually found with the embowed arm and scimitar only, as is the early onion-shaped wine bottle c.1700-1710 from the Bickford estate .
