Early American mallets?

[sandchip]

Steven could probably help too.

 

[GACDIG]

The glass just looks new.

 

[Steve/sewell]

 

[Steve/sewell]

Chris the reproduction guys have upped the ante check out this ebay item http://www.ebay.com/itm/Large-Blown-Case-Gin-Bottle-Pontiled-/351022525986?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51ba92ae22 It looks strikingly like yours. The color,and glass texture are too heavy, not thin walled. The work is just too crude the glass is also rounded . It is the glossy pontils that really give it away. I had pictures uploaded but they were causing problems. I will try again [attachment=58 (1).JPG] [attachment=58 (2).JPG] [attachment=57.JPG]

 

[Steve/sewell]

In my opinion there is only one glass artist in the country now capable of making glass that looks period and that is Doug Merrit of Liberty Village. Thank God he signs all of his work in the pontil area because if he didnt and wasnt honest and forth coming he would fool 90 out of 100 seasoned collectors. The Clevenger Brothers couldnt hold a candle to this guy. The only other person who fooled quite a bit of people was Emil Larson and his infamous Stiegel flasks,but he passed away years ago.

 

[botlguy]

I have been monitoring this thread in hopes that you, Steve, would pop in. It disturbs me greatly that there are those who can produce such wares, which is inevitable, but it just illuminates for us more astute collectors the necessity to keep this sort of information flowing. Steve, please NEVER leave these forums.

 

[cowseatmaize]

At least the gin is listed in modern-liquor. I see there is a Repro area know but what happened to the book section. I guess they removed it when I blinked. Whatever you do, don't blink!

 

[cowseatmaize]

Ood's,there it is, back a subsection.

 

[saratogadriver]

Ops. brain fart. Meant Jamestown. It reminds me of several pieces of their stuff that we picked up there years ago, although I'm not sure they sell the stuff they make there anymore. All the stuff on-line was cheap China made the last time I looked. Jim G

I don't know about Williamsburg but Jamestown made a lot of bottles, many are discontinued. I don't see anything close to Wistarburg in that. The pontil looks like it was fired smooth like a museum would do to avoid cuts but an early glasshouse probably wouldn't.Steve's website is http://historical-american-glass.com/ but I don't know if there is contact info. I think it has a blog.

 

[ChrisP1]

Hello All, I would like to thank everybody for their very helpful and thoughtful comments. I learned a lot from everyone. in particular, I appreciate Eric's comment regarding the fire smoothed pontil. That hadn't crossed my mind, but it really makes sense and was the first concrete evidence for me. Also, Steve's lengthly response was excellent. I will have to chalk this one up to naivete I thought I was getting an amazing deal on what were supposed to be very rare bottles. Obviously, if it looks too good to be true...it probably is. I'm in the process of trying to get my money back from the seller, but doubt I will have any luck as he claims to have been "deceived" by the person who sold these to him. Oh well.... Thanks again!Chris