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CHATEAU DE MONTARGIS, DATED 1775
ANTIQUE BOTTLE (FULL) OF RED WINE
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As per eBay Policy:
-The value of the item is in the collectible container, not its contents.
-The container has not been opened and any incidental contents are not intended for consumption.
-The item is not available at any retail outlet, and the container has a value that substantially exceeds the current retail price of the alcohol in the container.
-The seller will take all appropriate steps to ensure that the buyer is of lawful age in the buyer’s and seller's jurisdiction (generally 21 years of age).
-Buyers and sellers both ensure that the sale complies with all applicable laws and shipping regulations.
For your consideration from a private collection. You are looking at what might be one of the most fascinating bottles of wine in existence. This scarce bottle of wine would make a grand addition to any wine collection, sure to become the centerpiece of attention and conversation. It is the oldest known remaining bottle from Chateau de Montargis, a royal castle in France. It also tops the list of the oldest bottles of wines in existence. Most bottles from this era have auctioned for high five to six figure sums.
About the Bottle
Chateau de Montargis, dated 1775 - making it an extraordinary 234 years old! The bottle is completely full and wax sealed, containing a beautiful shade of red wine, sitting inside a hand-blown olive green bottle, which in itself is a work of art.
The bottle displays distinctive scoring around the circumference of its neck. The underside of the bottle concaves into just about the center of the bottle creating a deep punt - a very unique feature found in old bottles - created to ease the pouring of the wine upon drinking.
The bottle shows a structured unevenness throughout its design, with a slight 10-degree forward slant as a result of its remarkable hand-craftsmanship. The glass contains bubbles of air throughout, which are illuminated when held up to the light. The wine itself is a beautiful burgundy red color and displays a lot of sediment which is normal for its age, but more so is typically a sign of a first-rate handmade wine.
The wax seal has hardened like a rock over the centuries. The label is believed to be original, previously having been authenticated and determined that the ink on the label is black Indian ink, which is accurate with the bottle's age. It is interesting to note that historical research has pointed out that wine labels were first introduced in the 17th century, and completely written by hand at this time. It was not until 1798 that labels began to be printed and pressed - thus this bottle of wine is a great milestone in history.
The History of Montargis
Montargis is a commune of the Loriet département in France. The town is located about 100km south of Paris and 70km east of Orleans at the heart of the world-renowned region known as Gâtinais.
The town of Montargis is said to be the place where the jealous goddess Juno charged Argus with guarding her rival. Under this account, the name "Montargis" is supposed to derive from the Latin mons argi.
Alternatively, Julius Caesar, in his Gallic Wars, mentioned a chieftain named Moritas who gave his name to a town in the region. The town is known to date to ancient times. Numerous Gallo-Roman artifacts have been found in the area, and many are in the town’s Gâtinais Museum.
The medieval castle of Montargis passed between a number of royal and princely hands. It was a stronghold of the Frankish king Clovis I. Montargis was also originally part of the house of Courtenay, who fortified a chateau on a hill overlooking the town. The town was ceded to the king of France in 1188. Beyond the 14th century, it was a royal residence.
Hundred Years’ War
In 1427, during the Hundred Years’ War, the Earl of Warwick besieged the town with artillery, beginning bombardment on July 15. During the siege, the residents of Montargis sabotaged the dikes of numerous ponds in the district, flooding and drowning many of the besieging English.
On September 5, a French force of 1600 men broke the siege, led by Jean de Dunois and La Hire, commanders who would go on to lead the army of Joan of Arc. This marked the first important victory of the army of King Charles VII in the war, gratefully remembered by Charles later.
After being wounded in an unsuccessful attempt to besiege Paris in September 1429, Joan of Arc passed through Montargis on her way to Gien. After the war, Charles VII rewarded the town for its valor in the war by granting it various privileges. In 1490, his later successor Charles VIII officially declared the town Montargis Le Franc ("Montargis the tax-free"). This title is abbreviated as "MLF" in the official coat of arms. This privilege was renewed by his successors, and Montargis remained free of taxes for three centuries until it was revoked during the French Revolution.
In 1528, King Francis I granted the town to his sister-in-law, Renée of France, Duchess of Ferrara and daughter of King Louis XII. After her husband Ercole II, the Duke of Ferrara died in 1559, Renée resided at Montargis. She sheltered there Protestant Huguenots fleeing from persecutions in Paris and elsewhere during the 16th century French Wars of Religion.
The Legend of Montargis
The most well known legend of Montargis is that of "Dog of Montargis." In the story, Aubrey de Mont Didier, a courtier of King Charles V of France, was murdered in 1371 in a forest near Montargis by Macaire, an envious knight. After his death, Mont Didier’s dog showed a remarkable hostility to Macaire. King Charles decreed a trial by combat in the town between the dog and Macaire, who was armed with only a cudgel. After the dog won the battle, Macaire confessed to the crime and was hanged. A dramatic statue of this fight is in front of the Girodet Museum in central Montargis.
| TIME PERIOD |
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18TH CENTURY |
| DIMENSIONS |
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10 INCHES X 4 INCHES |
| TYPE: |
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ORIGINAL BOTTLE |
| COMPOSITION |
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OLIVE GLASS |
| CONTENTS |
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RED WINE, FULL BOTTLE |
| ESTIMATED VALUE |
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$75,000-$150,000 |
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