18TH / 19TH CENTURY WINE OR SPIRITS BOTTLES FROM THE CELLAR OF HEZEKIAH BEERS PIERREPONT (AMERICAN, 1763-1838), LOT OF TWO, olive-green or black glass, free-blown cylindrical forms, round laid-on collars below the plain mouths, pontil marked bases. One empty, the other full of reddish-brown liquid below mid-shoulder, seemingly well-sealed with cork and red wax. The empty bottle carries an old 20th century paper label and both have fragments of earlier labels. Two pieces total. Bottles first or second quarter 19th century. 11 3/4" 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 empty bottle in this lot has a handwritten label indicating its contents had been H.B.P.'s "French Spoliation Madeira" or "Black Seal Madeira", as it has come to be known. This label appears to be from the early 20th century and likely reiterates what was written on an earlier label, fragments of which still remain on the bottle. Fragments of an identical label are also on the full bottle here, which also has an area where it appears to have once had one of the same 20th century labels as the empty one. It seems reasonable to assume that the sealed bottle could contain the very same historic Madeira indicated on the empty bottle. However, until the bottle is opened, no one can say for certain.

Both bottles appear to be in excellent condition with nothing more than minor exterior wear, including perhaps a small cosmetic bruise or two mostly at heels; both additionally have some dirt, staining, and grime all over. Labels are in poor condition.

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.