Antique Stoneware Large Flagon

George Morton Ltd, Stoneware Antique Flagon 🔖 NO LOWER OFFERS WILL BE ACCEPTED / NO NEGOTIATION the price is the price 📦 Collection only - Please bring your own bubblewrap and protective box to transport it in your car. You will collect it as it is, I'm not boxing it up An extremely rare and collectable large, empty antique stoneware flagon from "George Morton Limited, Dundee". It is also stamped with the stoneware manufacturer's details "A.W Buchan & Co, Portobello, Scotland". The flagon is in excellent condition. Height: 45cm (18 inches) & weigh roughly 11.5kg George Morton Ltd was located on Dundee’s Dock Street, close to Seagate, and dated back to 1838. The firm was noted not only for its blended whiskies and brandies, but also for OVD rum, originally imported by George Morton in 1838 and a brand now owned by William Grant & Sons Ltd. Interesting background why ceramic pots & stoneware flagons were used during the years 1707 to 1850: In 1707 the first alcohol related tax hike was introduced and was promptly followed in 1725 by the English Malt Tax. These taxes put serious strains on the whisky industry with many distilleries shutting down and some choosing to go underground and produced whisky illegally. To compound matters there was also a heavy tax on glass introduced in 1746. The taxes meant that whisky distillers and drinkers started to look for alternative and discreet ways to store their whisky. Stone and ceramic pots and bottles became widely used as they provided a vessel that was both cheap and durable. Ceramic pots were also discreet, especially important if a distillery wanted to avoid paying their taxes. The durability of ceramic and stone became an increasingly important consideration as sea trade began to boom in the 18th century.