Silver Marsala Bottle Ticket by Margaret Binley 1770

This is a beautiful and very scarce form of silver wine label or bottle ticket with this example being for Marsala and made by the lady silversmith Margaret Binley.

The label has been expertly pierced out around the sides with interwoven flower heads and tendrils to give a very pleasing effect. The reverse side is struck twice with the MB maker's mark. Margaret Binley was the widow of Richard Binley and took over the running of the family business in 1764 until circa 1775. An identical label for Madeira is illustrated in "Wine Labels 1730-2003" figure 517.

The label is in excellent condition with neither damage nor repairs.

Marsala is a scarce name on wine labels. It is a dry or sweet wine, produced in the region surrounding the Italian city of Marsala in Sicily. While the city's natives sometimes drink "vintage" Marsala, the wine produced for export is universally fortified similar to Port, Madeira and Sherry. Originally, this addition of alcohol was to ensure that it would last on long ocean voyages, but now it is made that way because of its popularity in foreign markets.