BLACK GLASS OVOID DEMIJOHN

[web44ca]

Am interested in your opinion if this demi is American or European.

It was blown in a two part hinge mold ... most likely a side hinge mold ... the indentation is very shallow & looks like it was pushed up with a pontil rod ... mold seam ends at the neck ... applied lip ... it stands 20" ... circumference is 45" ...dark olive green color ... sometimes called a light black glass.

 

[tigue710]

Looks French. Early free formed American demijohns were Ovid, but as the mold came into use for American demis the cylinder shape became the standard used. I would date it to the 1880's with a French origin...

There has been a large amount of French demijohns in the wicker on the eBay market recently and many of them are showing back up with the wicker removed and listed as American... There's even one claimed to be a stoddard bottle right now... Which it clearly isn't...

Buyer beware of the "American" Ovid on eBay right now...

 

[web44ca]

[/size Appreciate ... Tigue ... your comments ... I believe there was at least sixty years between the free blowns of the late 1700's & the start of the cylindrical demis in the 1850's ... the hinge mold was used in America as early as 1810 & early American glass makers were keen to copy the European ovoid / globular examples because Americans at that time believed the imports were preferable.

 

[tigue710]

The American standard went right into free blown cylinders from the more Ovid thrown blown bottles. While there was a transition from a slightly tapered shape into the cylinder through the period between 1820-1850 or so American glass houses were not in general using molds for demijohns until the mid 1800's. I'm not aware of any mold blown Ovid demijohns that are American. They could be out there, but the large amount of European mold blown demijohns in our market make it very hard to distinguish one as otherwise without any solid proof having turned up in any of the early glass houses...

It's a very nice demijohn

 

[RED Matthews]

Hello web44ca; I haven't read this whole thread yet - but you said it was bottom hinged and then you said it was side hinged mold. This concerns me. I would like to have a good description of the mold seams and will check the rest of the thread for the bottom.
> I just got home from the hospital today so I have been away from the computer for a while. RED Matthews.

 

[web44ca]

What I stated... Red ... was the demi was made in a hinge mold ... most likely a side hinge mold ... because the bottom is bl. gl. & a very shallow knick-up ... very difficult to show ... the rod impression you can feel better than see ... anyway have added a pic of the bottom for what its worth.

 

[web44ca]

Thank you Tigue for your comments ... I now have a more comprehensive understanding of the demi in America.

 

[JustGlass]

I have the twin to yours but I think its different in color. The size, shape and base all appear to be the same. Mine has a ton of glass impurities that never melted in the making. I always wondered about it's age and where it was made.

 

[JustGlass]

color against light

 

[web44ca]

yes they are quite similiar ... appreciate ... JustGlass ... for showing your demi ... mine is up now on Ebay ... search ... black glass demijohn ... # 160640556527.