A bottle of Hungarian Tokaji wine, circa 1650-1690, with sea...

Hammer

£4,000

A bottle of Hungarian Tokaji wine, circa 1650-1690, with seal showing crossed swords and indistinct letters, 'HOF' thought to be the seal for the Royal Saxon House, and the first the Letters 'HOF' (possibly HOFKELLEREI The Royal Saxon Cellar of Augustus The Strong), the mallet form  wine bottle with tapered collar neck rising to a bladed ring, with struck seal the shoulder and struck pontil to underside of base, height 17cm, with paper label reading VIN R 89, 25.4.69.

NB - This bottle is considered a 'discovery', with very few bottles known to still exist. Tokaji wine has long been produced in the Hungarian wine region of Tokaj, from the grapes affected by noble rot. Considered an 'elixir' which paid a significant role in the Saxon court for centuries. There are distinct similarities to the bottle and seal of a known collection of Tokaji wine sold by the Foundation of The House of Wettin in 1927.  The auction took place in Dresden and it is documented that sixty two bottles were sold which were from the cellar of Augustus the Strong.

More Information

The cork is intact, however originally would have been covered by wax.

PROVENANCE : The bottle has been with the same family for approximately 45 years and thence by descent.


Noticeable air bubbles to the glass, further elongated air bubbles to neck.
The seal is slightly mistruck and could read a little bit clearer, but the crossed swords and three letters HOF are visible.
Ullage levels are upper mid shoulder to mid shoulder, and approx. 0.5cm below the top of the seal.
Discolouration and staining to the interior of the bottle neck where the previous levels were.