This is a very collectable decanter which was made in the 1930s in Czechoslovakia.
It has a very appropriate raised image of Bacchus, God of Wine - on the front of the decanter. You can see his face peeping out of vine leaves and surrounded by fruiting vines. The grapes and vine leaf pattern is carried onto the stopper.
He takes the form of a Pan figure - and holds a long pipe or flute in his hand. He certainly looks rather naughty and is preparing for some Pagan revelries.
The distinctive stopper is totally amazing and takes the shape of a large lozenge or fan shape, It is highly decorative and beautifully cut with fine faceted edges.
The decanter was made about 1934 by Hoffman / Schlevogt - as part of their Ingrid line.
Many similar pieces were manufactured by Curt Schlevogt, who established his own glass company in 1928. He became (with Heinrich Hoffman) the main producer of art glass figures, vases, decanters and smaller perfume bottles and vases that were created using moulds.
The company was taken over by Curt's son in 1934, and at this time they introduced their first collection of fine pressed glassware. This range was called "Ingrid" after his daughter. The most common pieces in this range are decorated with dancing figures and the glass has been made to resemble mottled green malachite.
The company ceased trading in 1945 after the end of World War II.
Not many of these large hexagonal Bacchus decanters have survived - especially in damage free condition - and with the potentially vulnerable stopper fully intact. This smokey pewter colour is also very unusual and rare.
The decanter comes with all the original little faceted and angular shot glasses (these matching ones are really rare!), sadly with the tots being used more regularly over the years - they are not 100% perfect and most have the tiniest of nibbles here and there on the rim sections - you cannot see these on display - but if you look carefully they are present. I have taken a few photographs of the blemishes so that you can assess just how minor the fleabites are.
Dimensions: overall height of the decanter including the stopper is 10 3/4 inches. The width is 7 inches and the depth is 3 inches. The width of the dramatic stopper is 5 1/2 inches.
I bought this set many years ago at Bonhams and it has lived in my display cabinet for 20 years now - have never seen another one with the matching glasses come up for sale since.
My asking price for this rare set of Czech Art Deco Glass is certainly a very fair one.