Its shape, a transition between the 17th century shape globe and shaft and the onion form of the early 18th century, allowed the auctioneers to suggest a date of around 1680-90.
Even more importantly the dark olive green glass bore a clearly impressed seal, featuring the family crest of a peacock over a marquis's coronet flanked by the initials GC. If its origins have not yet been identified, their discovery is probably only a matter of time.
The best piece in a consignment from the Torquay area, it was estimated at £2000-2500 in the July 14-15 sale, but Bearnes' specialist Nic Saintey thought it could make £10,000.
In the event collector and trade interest from the UK and US took it past that level, with the hammer falling to an anonymous telephone bidder against a phone underbidder at £14,500 (plus 17.5% buyer's premium).
The price put it up amongst the highest paid at auction for early glass wine bottles, like the shaft and globe version with handle sold for £21,000 at BBR in July 2008, or the shaft and globe version sold by Bonhams in December 2007 for £18,000.
