Ships decanter and stopper, in full lead crystal glass, mouth blown, hand cut, English, 20th century. Decanters, handled and sometimes stoppered, appeared in the early eighteenth century. They were often of varied section, of which the most popular for while was octagonal. Handles were soon dispensed with and made only rare appearances for about one hundred years. The ship's decanter, sometimes known as a "Rodney" (after Admiral Rodney) emerged towards the end of the eighteenth century, its great base ensuring stability at sea.