Collectibles

1972 Hudson's Bay Beaver Porcelain Decanter, Canadian Rye Whisky Bottle (Kilay)

$124.80

  • Details
    FOR SALE ☞

    Original 1972 Hudson's Bay Canadian Rye Whisky porcelain beaver decanter by Kilay Porcelain, complete with its original cork-fitted ceramic stopper, period labels, and remnants of the 1967 Canadian excise strip.

    DESCRIPTION ☞

    This vintage porcelain whisky decanter was produced by Kilay Porcelain in 1972 for Hudson's Bay Canadian Rye Whisky. Modelled in the form of a Canadian beaver resting upon a fallen log, the piece is a distinctive example of early 1970s Canadian spirits packaging and decorative wildlife ceramics.

    The beaver is rendered in considerable detail, with deeply textured brown fur, prominent front teeth, carefully modelled paws, and a broad, textured tail descending along the side of the base. The fallen log is finished in reddish-brown tones, while the surrounding woodland base features green foliage, branches, and contrasting cream and ochre colouring.

    The front retains its original gold-bordered label identifying Hudson's Bay Canadian Rye Whisky, with the historic incorporation date of May 2, 1670, and the company's Winnipeg, Canada identification.

    The reverse features a gold-coloured informational label describing the beaver's importance to the North American fur trade and the development of Canada. It also identifies the vessel as a porcelain bottle made in the shape of the Canadian beaver.

    The original ceramic stopper is designed to resemble the top of a tree stump and retains its natural cork fitting. Portions of the original orange Canadian excise strip remain attached to the stopper and bottle, displaying the year 1967 and identifying number H4761022.

    The underside is embossed:

    KILAY PORCELAIN
    1972

    The reverse of the bottle also bears the raised capacity marking "25 OZS."

    The beaver held particular historical importance to the Hudson's Bay Company, whose early trading activities were closely associated with the demand for beaver pelts in Europe. This porcelain bottle reflects that historical connection through its sculptural animal design and accompanying explanatory labels.

    A distinctive piece of Canadian commercial history, suitable for collectors of vintage porcelain, Canadian wildlife figurines, historical advertising, decorative bottles, and Hudson's Bay Company memorabilia.

    This decanter is offered empty, with no alcohol included.

    DIMENSIONS ☞ (Approximately)

    Height: 18 cm (7 inches), including stopper

    Width: 15 cm (6 inches)

    Depth: 9 cm (3½ inches)

    Original marked capacity: 25 oz

    CONDITION ☞

    Good vintage condition with age-related wear consistent with a porcelain piece manufactured in 1972.

    The sculptural detailing remains well defined, including the beaver's textured fur, facial features, paws, tail, and surrounding woodland decoration.

    The original front identification label and reverse historical information label remain present, with surface rubbing, minor discolouration, and some wear to the gold-coloured finishes.

    The original ceramic stopper is included and retains its cork fitting, which shows age-related discolouration and wear. The original excise strip has been broken where the bottle was opened, with remaining portions still attached.

    There are minor surface marks, light scuffs, and areas of discolouration across the porcelain, including around the bottle opening and underside. The underside also shows contact wear from previous handling and display.

    No major breaks or obvious structural cracks are apparent. Please examine all photographs for the detailed condition of the porcelain, labels, stopper, and finishes.

    The stone used to support the decanter in certain photographs is a separate display prop and is not included.

    Please see photos. Color may differ slightly in real life from how it appears on your screen due to varying monitor settings. Have a question about this item or want to see more photos? Send us a message & we’ll get back to you ASAP!

    ABOUT US ☞ Front Street Antiques is located in downtown historic Kaslo, British Columbia, Canada. We are a husband and wife team on the hunt for interesting items that inspire nostalgia and curiosity. As antique enthusiasts, we do our very best to describe any imperfections and quirks, as well as provide a general background on the item; however, we are not yet experts on every item in our store. If you have additional information about an item for us, please send us a message -- we are always grateful to learn more :)

    PLEASE NOTE ☞ Item will be carefully packaged up and shipped within 3 business days of sale, often sooner. We combine shipping on multiple items -- please send us a message prior to purchase to give us a heads up & we will be happy to refund the difference upon shipping!

    All our listings are considered collectible, retro/vintage (25+ years) or antique (100+ years) and are rarely brand new. The majority of our stock comes from auctions and private collections or estates. Items for sale may display some age related wear and/or minor flaws consistent with the date of manufacture. Photos are included as part of the description. Due to the age and nature of our stock, all items are sold "as is" and final sale unless damaged in transit and covered by insurance.

    Items listed on our Etsy store are also available for sale in our physical store location and may sell at any time! Visit us in person to check out our wide variety of stock - 416 Front St. Kaslo, BC

    We strive to earn 100% perfect "★★★★★" ratings from our customers. If anything about your transaction did not meet your expectations, please let us know ASAP and give us the opportunity to make things right before leaving feedback.

    Be sure to check out our other listings on our etsy store: frontstantiques.etsy.com

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    Return Policy:

    • EU/UK Buyers — Under consumer law, most online orders include a 14-day right of withdrawal. Exceptions may apply to antiques, collectibles, and items sold “as is.” Buyer pays return shipping; refunds are issued only after inspection and verification of condition.

    • Non-EU Buyers (US, Canada, etc.) — All sales are final unless otherwise stated.
  • Shipping & Policies

    Shipping from Canada

    Processing time

    1-3 business days

    Estimated shipping times

    • Canada : 3 - 10 business days
    • United States : 5 - 14 business days

    I'll do my best to meet these shipping estimates, but can't guarantee them. Actual delivery time will depend on the shipping method you choose.

    Customs and import taxes

    Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.

    Payment Options

    Secure options
    • Accepts Etsy gift cards

    Returns & Exchanges

    Returns accepted within 14 days

    Buyers are responsible for return shipping costs. If the item is not returned in its original condition, the buyer is responsible for any loss in value.

    I gladly accept cancellations

    Request a cancellation within: 24 hours of purchase

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Do you accept returns?

    For EU & UK buyers: As required by consumer law, most online purchases can be cancelled within 14 days of delivery. Certain exceptions apply (antiques, collectibles, items sold “for parts/repair”). Buyer pays return shipping, and refunds are issued only after the item is received and verified in its original condition.

    For buyers outside the EU/UK (e.g. USA, Canada): All sales are considered final. Returns are not accepted except in cases of significant misrepresentation.

    Do you accept exchanges?

    No. All of our items are considered one-offs and unique so we can not offer exchanges at this time.

    Will I have to pay extra customs or duty fees if I’m in the U.S.?

    We ship all U.S. orders using the most reliable method available. Some items (especially antiques over 100 years old or U.S.-made goods) are tariff-exempt under current rules. For other items, we do our best to pre-pay duties and include them in the price (known as DDP — Delivered Duty Paid) so what you see at checkout is what you’ll pay.

    What does “DDP” mean?

    DDP stands for Delivered Duty Paid. It means we take care of the customs paperwork and fees on our end whenever possible. That way, your package clears the border smoothly and you won’t get a surprise bill on delivery.

    Are there any exceptions?

    Most antiques and U.S.-made vintage items ship duty-free. European pieces are usually covered by DDP (we pre-pay the duty and build it into the price). Canadian-made vintage can sometimes carry higher tariffs; in those rare cases, we’ll either adjust the listing price to reflect the duty or let you know up front if extra charges could apply. If you have any concerns regarding tariffs, please message us prior to purchase and we would be happy to do some research for you!

    What happens if customs does charge extra?

    We’re transparent about this from the start: buyers are responsible for any customs/import fees that may apply. That said, we always do our best to minimize the risk by using the right codes and carriers. If you have questions about a specific item, message us before checkout and we’ll give you an honest answer about what to expect.

    Why do some Canadian shops say “buyer is responsible for duty”?

    That’s Etsy’s default policy. We go a step further by explaining how duties work and when we can cover them. Our goal is to make your buying experience smooth and surprise-free.