18TH / 19TH CENTURY WINE OR SPIRITS BOTTLES FROM THE CELLAR OF HEZEKIAH BEERS PIERREPONT (AMERICAN, 1763-1838), LOT OF THREE, olive-green or medium green glass, cylindrical forms, double collared mouths, two bottles machine made and one blown in a three-piece mold. Each full of tawny brown or reddish-brown liquid at either mid- or high-shoulder level, seemingly well-sealed with cork and brown or red wax. Two bottles carry old 20th century paper labels and the other is instead painted. Three pieces total. Bottles first and second quarter 20th century. 12 1/4" H.
Literature: Abbot Low Moffat - The Pierreponts, 1802-1962; the American forebears and the descendants of Hezekiah Beers Pierpont and Anna Maria Constable.
Catalogue Note: These bottles are part of a small assemblage which descended through the Pierrepont family, originally of Brooklyn, NY. Monticello acquired this group from Anne Pierrepont Luquer, great-great-great granddaughter of Hezekiah B. Pierrepont, each bottle said to have come from the famed Pierrepont family wine cellars in Brooklyn Heights, with many having related paper labels. The Pierreponts were an 18th and 19th century New York mercantile dynasty whose patriarch, Hezekiah Beers Pierrepont, is most famous for his 1790s seafaring adventures and unlucky involvement in the complicated geopolitical issue of "French spoliation". Hezekiah chartered a ship named the Confederacy, partaking in lucrative international trade without incident until 1797 when his ship and all its cargo were stolen/seized by French privateers (pirates). The Confederacy and its cargo were soon sold at public auction in Nantes. Aboard the ship was a large quantity of Madeira, at least some of which was re-purchased by Pierrepont at that auction, and re-imported to New York City.

The older (hand blown) bottle is painted with "Mariett / Brandy / 1804". We could find no information about it, although it must have been bottled much later on, since the bottle itself cannot date much prior to 1900. The other two bottles are a similar story, both are machine made and date to likely the 1930s or 40s, both have typewritten labels reading "DEMIJOHN MADEIRA - B '40" with "MADEIRA" crossed out and different contents penciled in. The labels suggest that these two bottles were filled from a larger demijohn stored in the cellar, in 1940. One bottle seems to be "Brown Sherry" and also has "H.B.P. 1829" penciled below. The other one is tough to discern but seems to be "Rivadet(?) Brandy". It seems reasonable to assume that this lot contains two bottles of brandy and one of sherry. However, until the bottles are opened, no one can say for certain.

Each bottle appears to be in excellent condition with nothing more than minor exterior wear and, including some dirt, staining, and grime all over. Labels are in average condition with some yellowed and peeling tape.

Please Note Before Bidding: The buyer acknowledges that he/she is acting within compliance with their state and local laws in regards to the purchase, transportation and delivery of possibly spirituous liquors. The buyer acknowledges that he/she takes possession of purchased lots upon the fall of the hammer. We can make no guarantees to the conditions under which these bottles were cellared, and all details of their handling prior to Monticello's accessioning are unknown to us. Purchases are at the buyer's risk, and no returns will be accepted. Buyers may make arrangements including an in-person auction house pick-up or designating a third party to complete delivery of purchased lots.