Vintage decanters, including wine, oil and vinegar, and metal varieties, can still be used for serving food and drink. However, collectors should be aware of potential issues with lead or radioactive glazes and should learn about makers and materials before use. Vintage glass should be cleaned thoroughly and heated or cooled before use to prevent breakage. Leaded glass and uranium glass should not be used for food or drink, as they can leach harmful metals.
Today, antique enthusiasts can still find uses for a vintage decanter. Liquor and wine decanters, cruets made for oil and vinegar, and other items like pickle wheels present food and drink in a more attractive serving container. Old glass and ceramics are generally safe, but some may have problems with lead or radioactive glazes. Collectors should take the time to learn more about makers and materials before using a vintage decanter.
Wine decanters are used to separate the sediment from the wine itself, allowing it to settle and then pouring the wine into the vessel, leaving the sediment behind. A vintage decanter may have a cork that can deteriorate over time or be broken. These can be found online fairly easily, but may not match the original piece. A new stopper can give the decanter a different look.
A set of vintage oil and vinegar decanters were often paired with table collections that also included sugar, cream and butter dishes and salt cellars. They were sometimes made of porcelain and included a metal stand. Used in retro decor, they are vibrant and useful additions to table setting. Metal decanters for syrup, cream, and liquor mostly hold up well, though damaged pieces may have leaks or rust along the seams and need to be taken back from food service.
All older dishes should be thoroughly cleaned before use. The narrow neck of a vintage decanter makes this difficult, but a bottle brush or even dried rice grains along with warm soapy water can loosen deposits. Old glass is best washed by hand in a sink lined with a soft towel or thick rubber mat in case it gets dropped. Before adding hot or cold items, the vintage decanter should be heated or cooled to prevent glass breakage.
A vintage leaded glass decanter can leach the metal into foods and beverages, especially wine and other acidic liquids. Some experts say the risk is minimal, but others advise lead crystal decanters to remain purely decorative. The glass should not be used for food or drink served to pregnant women or children due to the risk of lead poisoning, which can cause serious developmental problems.
Uranium glass, commonly known as petroleum jelly glass due to its yellow color, is made with trace amounts of uranium. This glass may be slightly radioactive and is not considered safe for food. To test the authenticity of a vintage vaseline glass decanter, collectors will shine a black light on the piece, causing it to fluoridate. Fiestaware and other pottery with a red glaze made between 1936-1943 and 1959-1969 may also be radioactive. Both Vaseline glass and Fiestaware are harmless when displayed in the home.
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