Antique 1824 Newton Gordon Bual Madeira Wine Bottle Heublein Auction Provenance

Details

Description

This is an exceptional, historically significant empty antique glass wine bottle from the early 19th century. As marked on the … Read more This is an exceptional, historically significant empty antique glass wine bottle from the early 19th century. As marked on the vintage typed cellar/bin label, this bottle originally held the highly celebrated 1824 Bual Madeira shipped by the prestigious historical firm Newton, Gordon, Murdock & Scott (predecessor to Cossart Gordon).

Adding substantial prestige to its provenance, the shoulder boasts a distinctive, serrated gold foil auction seal that reads: "Acquired at The Heublein 1976 Premiere National Auction of Rare Wines • May 27, 1976 • New Orleans." A handwritten lot/bin sticker "664/ /665" remains on the upper reverse body. There are fragile remains of its historical reddish-brown wax capsule seal.

The dark olive-amber "black glass" bottle showcases characteristic early 19th-century manufacturing features, including a deeply kicked-back pushup base, subtle glass striations, asymmetrical shoulder slope, and a hand-applied string rim finish. The bottle is presented with its aged, original cellar patina intact, making it an extraordinary display centerpiece for serious wine historians, historical glass collectors, or high-end interior designers.

Origin: Madeira, Portugal (Shipped to European/American Markets)
Age: 1824 (Bottle manufactured circa 1820–1824)
Material: Hand-blown / Tool-finished "Black Glass" (Dark Olive-Amber Vitreous Paste)

Reference
Book Title: Madeira: The Mid-Atlantic Wine
Author: Alex Liddell
Page Reference: Page 42–46 (Discussing the early 19th-century trade dominance, shipping partnerships, and lineage of Newton, Gordon, Murdoch & Scott).

Note for Listing Context: This exact 1824 vintage bottle from Newton Gordon is a documented historical lot from the landmark Heublein Rare Wine Auctions established by Alexander McNally, which transformed the international fine wine collecting market in the mid-to-late 20th century.

Curator's Note
Steeped in historical romance and mid-century collecting pedigree, this rare 'black glass' bottle originally cradled an extraordinary 1824 Bual Madeira shipped by the legendary house of Newton, Gordon, Murdock & Scott. Complete with its original typed bin label and the highly coveted gold foil seal from the landmark 1976 Heublein Premiere National Auction of Rare Wines in New Orleans, this piece carries a visual narrative that transcends mere objecthood. Its deep olive-amber hand-blown form, asymmetric shoulder lines, and wonderfully preserved dry cellar patina offer an exquisite rustic texture. An exceptional decorative artifact, it brings instant historical weight and continental sophistication to a sophisticated library bookcase, a curator's backbar display, or an atmospheric dining room vignette. See less