Bears Oil, Labeled & Pontiled

[Robby Raccoon]

C. 1840s-1850s labeled Bear's Oil bottle. Blown in a hinge mold, it feautures trace iron residue in its pontil scar and a serifed embossed"M" of the unknown glass-maker on the back heel. Purportedly, this came out of New Jersey.

Just got this one in the mail today. I put in a max bid in the last 10 seconds and it jumped up to every last penny of that. Had someone bid a penny more, someone else would be making this post.

As no company is listed, this is likely a generic engraved label many druggists or perfumists may have ordered. It is now inked green but this may simply be faded black ink or a reaction between black or blue ink and the clear coat someone gave it some years ago. That is now yellowing and cracking.

I wanted a labeled & pontiled Bear's Oil since I was 16. While I had a Bear's Grease jar and an embossed bear's oil bottle, my collection is now come full circle.

Now to find a raccoon bottle.... The quest continues!

There are several stretched bubbles and light "whittle".

 

[ROBBYBOBBY64]

Beautiful bears oil! I am from nj. Nicest label i ever saw.

 

[Robby Raccoon]

Beautiful bears oil! I am from nj. Nicest label i ever saw.

Thank you. I've hoped for something like this since I was 16.
A 1902 reference to odd oils passed down through the ages:

 

[shorthandleshovel]

Well,,, So happy to see that label on the M bottle. I couldn't figure that one out without the label help.

 

[Robby Raccoon]

Well,,, So happy to see that label on the M bottle. I couldn't figure that one out without the label help.

"M" seems to be the glassmaker, but I made a seperate post asking if anyone knows who that was. They seem to come from NY & NJ.

Mid 1800s Glasshouse "M" Question

In short, what is the Eastern American glasshouse that embossed their bottles with a serifed M at the heel? The bases of their flat sided aqua utility bottles seem to always have a pontil and were done in a hinge mold. The lip seems to always be rolled and the bottles are of similar height...

www.antique-bottles.net

 

[sandchip]

Such a beauty. That label just rocks.