The tastevin is the sommelier's original instrument: a shallow silver cup, polished bright inside, into which a splash of wine was poured to be judged. Silver was not vanity — the bright metal behind a thin layer of wine let the taster read its colour and clarity by candlelight in a dark cellar, which no glass of the day could do. Cellar masters wore them on ribbons; the small cup was a working badge of office.
This taster is Continental, in solid 900-standard silver, stamped 900 with a maker's mark to the underside and weighing just under 34 grams. The shallow bowl is bright inside, banded below the rim with a frieze of Empire-style palmettes between beaded borders, and the handle is cast as a bird perched on a scrolled thumb-rest. Tilt the cup toward a light and look at the inside of the bowl — a working taster is kept mirror-bright there on purpose, because that reflective floor is the instrument itself, the surface against which the wine's colour was read. At 5.8 centimetres across, it is a small example of the type, sized for the palm.
The silver is in good order, with light interior scratching from use and gentle surface wear, as the photographs show. Whoever judged their wine in this cup before you kept it in service. It sits well on a bar cart, in a cabinet of small silver, or on a desk as the most civilised of catchalls.
The cup is solid 900 silver, stamped and weighing 33.98 grams. It arrives professionally packed and fully insured — we handle the paperwork and worldwide shipping, with all import duties paid by us, so there is nothing to settle on delivery. Returns are accepted within 30 days.
DETAILS:
Diameter: 5.8 cm (2.3 in) — palm-sized; smaller than the classic Burgundy taster
Weight: 33.98 g (1.2 oz)
Solid silver, 900 standard; stamped 900 with maker's mark to underside
Cast bird handle; Empire-style palmette and beaded border
Condition: good condition; light interior scratching from use, gentle surface wear
