jschaeffer
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Is this an onion bottle? What can you tell me about it...
- Thread starter jschaeffer
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Harry Pristis
Well-Known Member
It's not an onion in the common sense among bottle collectors. Your bottle was probably made in the Middle East in the 20th Century -- a "Persian bottle." I might call the form "shaft and globe."
I personally would disagree with Harry on this one. I've seen several of these in the Northeast over the years...the examples I have seen have a graphite pontil (as this one appears to have) and I think they are American. Definitely strange as they are clearly a copy of the earlier shaft and globe bottles from the UK but likely date to the late 1850's or early 1860's. They are mold blown (I can't remember if they are spun or if they have mold seams, but they are definitely mold blown and quite uniform).
Harry Pristis
Well-Known Member
I don't think this is a utility bottle, judging by the lip finish. This lip falls into the category of bud vase. I think it's a "Persian" bottle from the 20th Century.
All the "Persian" bottles I have seen are pontil-scarred. They are produced to catch the eye, sometimes by form, sometimes by color, often by both. Commonly, they are free-blown.
There is a TOC Dutch distiller which used a fair copy of an onion bottle, but those bottles are base-embossed and have no pontil scar.
We have two now . . . Any other opinions?
All the "Persian" bottles I have seen are pontil-scarred. They are produced to catch the eye, sometimes by form, sometimes by color, often by both. Commonly, they are free-blown.
There is a TOC Dutch distiller which used a fair copy of an onion bottle, but those bottles are base-embossed and have no pontil scar.
We have two now . . . Any other opinions?
Harry Pristis
Well-Known Member
I agree that the bottle is mold-blown.
The base scar appears to be a disc pontil, not an iron or "improved" pontil scar. But, that seems irrelevant.
This is not an applied lip -- why would an application of more glass be necessary to produce a flared lip! The lip was no doubt tooled; but, I doubt that the lip string was applied separately. The lipping tool may have squeezed the molded ring, producing a skirt of excess glass below the string.
We're having fun now! More opinions, please!
Harry,
The examples I have seen in person do have an applied lip...just like this one. Not sure why they did it rather than shearing and flaring but definitely a very well-formed applied lip on these. They are very well made bottles. If the poster can post a photo of the top of the lip you'll see what I am talking about. My guess is that they held some sort of liquor and I have seen several of them in the Northeast...including 1 that was pulled out of the attic of a house during an auction in northern New Hampshire when I was a kid...I still have a cathedral pickle bottle I bought at that auction.
The examples I have seen in person do have an applied lip...just like this one. Not sure why they did it rather than shearing and flaring but definitely a very well-formed applied lip on these. They are very well made bottles. If the poster can post a photo of the top of the lip you'll see what I am talking about. My guess is that they held some sort of liquor and I have seen several of them in the Northeast...including 1 that was pulled out of the attic of a house during an auction in northern New Hampshire when I was a kid...I still have a cathedral pickle bottle I bought at that auction.
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Harry Pristis
Well-Known Member
We'll just have to agree to disagree about the construction of the bottle.
While I appreciate your stories, nhpharm, you are offering only anecdotal proof for your assertion of significant age and utility for this bottle. What we need is more opinions.
While I appreciate your stories, nhpharm, you are offering only anecdotal proof for your assertion of significant age and utility for this bottle. What we need is more opinions.
Harry Pristis
Well-Known Member
**sigh** Yes, I recognize that phenomenon.
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