Topic: stopper for a snifter

[Paul S.]

which is what I assume it is, but could well be wrong.     Quite nice cutting with slices and rings etc. and about 5.5" - 145mm long in total.        I've looked through 'The Decanter' book, although seems there is almost nothing on things like this - except a single reference to something called a 'hollow pegged taster stopper', which apparently serves as a miniature tumbler  -  the decanter in question was a Prussian from about 1785.        However, on the book example it's the stopper end that is hollowed out for the booze, not the top end as on this one.          It's true that the open end is beveled on mine, and the cut surface is ground and polished, but it looks a bit too small to get the liquid into in the first place - barely half an inch of opening.           The stopper is ground, so I'm assuming it wasn't a stand alone piece and was intended to accompany a decanter of some description  -  although there isn't any sign of a matching number that I can see.            The final inch or so of the cavity is very difficult, if not impossible, to reach in order to clean the inside, so not perhaps the most hygienic of inventions.
I've seen hundreds of stoppers, but never one like this  -  are they very rare, or have I just been missing them?     What sort of date might people put on this particular example?               thanks for looking.

[Paul S.]

did occur to me to wonder if this had been from someone's favourite decanter  -  and maybe the stopper has had the top shortened to remove damage of some kind - thus exposing the hollow

[johnphilip]

I have two decanters with snifter stoppers so that one can have a quick drink without the lady of the house hearing the clink of glass there is also one on ebay right now .

[Paul S.]

thanks  -  and there goes another idea of me having a rarity.       Looking at the shape I'd venture to say that this was from a sherry or port decanter rather than Scotch or Gin.