A reader of the Original Prop Blog directed my attention to an ended eBay auction offered by Auction Depot LA with a Global Antiques COA titled: “TV PROP ORIGINAL GLASS DECANTER OWNED BY LUCILLE BALL”
This seller and consignor/authenticator have already been topics of past articles:
“Gone With The Wind, Global Antiques, and Auction Depot LA“
“Global Antiques, Auction Depot LA – Reader Experience With “Original” Casablanca Prop”
As discussed in the previous articles, “Auction Depot LA” (auctiondepotla1 on eBay) offers a large number of items on a regular basis, consigned and authenticated by “Global Antiques” and “City of Los Angeles Global Antiques”, that are described as “original” and “authentic” props from “Gone With The Wind”, “The Wizard of Oz”, “I Love Lucy”, “James Bond”, “Lord of the Rings”, and other films, as well and many items marketed as owned by John Wayne and other classic and iconic Hollywood stars.
Glass Decanter TV Prop, I Love Lucy Show
“TV PROP ORIGINAL GLASS DECANTER OWNED BY LUCILLE BALL” (eBay Item #320209794711)
High Resolution Full Auction Archive: eBay Listing – auctiondepotla1 “TV PROP ORIGINAL GLASS DECANTER OWNED BY LUCILLE BALL”
This is the marketing description for the item:
You are looking at a TV PROP ORIGINAL GLASS DECANTER OWNED BY LUCILLE BALL + COA
Now is your chance to own a piece of Hollywood history!!
Product Details:
- OWNED BY LUCILLE BALL
- Glass Decanter
- I Love Lucy
- Seagrams decantor
Please Note:
**We only know that this item was a prop for the show, we do not know which scene it was featured in **
Interesting that it is described as both “OWNED BY LUCILLE BALL” as well as used as a “prop for the show”, “I Love Lucy”.
These are the details of the “Certificate of Authenticity (City of Los Angeles, Global Antiques)”:
The COA cites the television program “I Love Lucy Show”, “Lucille Ball – TV Prop” and “1959 to 1960”.
Per Wikipedia (LINK):
I Love Lucy is a popular American situation comedy, starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951 to May 6, 1957 on CBS. The show continued on for three more seasons with 13 one-hour specials, running from 1957 to 1960, known first as The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show and later in reruns as The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.
So while the “I Love Lucy” show aired between 1951-1957, their were subsequent specials that aired from 1957-1960. There was also a show titled, “The Lucy Show” that aired 1962-1968 (ref.).
In any event, given the description of the item, in order to have been employed as a “TV Prop”, the manufacture date would have to be prior to either 1960 or 1957, depending on how technical one would chose to be.
The item offered for sale on eBay is merely described as a “Seagrams decantor”, along with measurements.
However, in reviewing the photos provided of the bottom, additional information is available:
Note it reads: “SEAGRAMS 1776 DECANTER DESIGNED BY TIFFANY & CO”
Tiffany & Co. was founded in 1837, while Seagram Company LTD. was formed from a distillery in 1883.
So why “1776”?
Following research, it appears that Seagram’s and Tiffany & Co. celebrated the Bicentennial of the American Declaration of Independence in 1976 by releasing a commemorative whiskey product, with the decanter designed by Tiffany and packaged in the famous “Tiffany Blue” branded bag and box.
Photo of the Auction Depot LA “I Love Lucy Show” “TV Prop”:
Photo of the Seagrams Tiffany-Designed “1776~1976” Bicentennial Whiskey Decanter – Profile:
Photo of the Seagrams Tiffany-Designed “1776~1976” Bicentennial Whiskey Decanter – Bottom:
Links to examples of the Seagrams Tiffany-Designed “1776” Bicentennial Decanter in the marketplace:
There are also a number of these available for sale on eBay:
Jason De Bord