Listed a bottle on ebay can you ID?

[FIGGINS DIGGINS]

Hey Guys and Gals, long time, no word, sorry, but I could really use some help from some of you who may be more familiar with pontil bottles than I. I found what I thought was a pretty neat bottle at a yard sale(it may be junk) and could use your help identifying its age and possible use. I don't really have a clue on it. Made me think barber bottle for some reason. Sure would appreciate. Got a coke listed and some milks too. Miss the forum folks, just going in other directions right now. I'll be back.

 

[FIGGINS DIGGINS]

PONTIL SHOT:

 

[capsoda]

Hey dan, Good to here from you. Looks like gold leaf on the front of that thing. Did you dig it?

 

[FIGGINS DIGGINS]

yard sale. my digging has been on the backburner for a while now. I have been buying/selling scrap gold and silver but still run across bottles at sales once in a while. Lot of people still practically giving away gold and silver up here. It sure is easy money. I have been doing very well on just that and of course still working on the side, hee hee(only when I have to!). Do you think this bottle is old? Good to hear from ya, holler at ya later!

 

[KentOhio]

I never saw one with a label. Those are usually called a cologne bottle and are thought to have been made at Sandwich. 1860s to 1880s is a good guess as to age. They usually sell for about $100.

 

[FIGGINS DIGGINS]

Thank you for the info KentOhio. The label looks period, but I guess it may have been added later on. If it is original, there must have been a paper label in the center of the big shield or some other lettering that didn't survive the years. There is no trace of any lettering or label left inside shield that I can find. I will pass your info and that it may be goldleaf (from Cap) along to my prospective bidders. Appreciate ya fellers!!!

 

[FIGGINS DIGGINS]

A quick update and some more information for future cologne/barber bottle researchers. One of my bidders is a barber bottle collector and passed along that this bottle in his reference book is listed as unusual in this color and the "quart" style. He owns one which is a dead ringer to my bottle, but has a variation on the label and lacks the darker swirls in the glass. I am adding his information and pictures with his permission. I really enjoy researching and learning about bottles more than anything (except maybe finding them) and hope that someone in the future can benefit from this info. Thanks Kenneth! Here is a pic of his bottle. He gave $112 for it at a show in 1996.

 

[FIGGINS DIGGINS]

Here is a closer picture of the label on his bottle which is very similar in color and shape to mine, but again unique, as is the case with all handmade bottles I think. Reinforces my feeling that the labels are period. It is also both our opinion that these would have included at one time the name of contents, such as lilac water, bay rum, shampoo, etc.

 

[FIGGINS DIGGINS]

Pontil scar on Kenneth's bottle:

 

[FIGGINS DIGGINS]

Hey Meech, thank you very much for that additional information. That one brought over 113 dollars. Mine brought 75 dollars. I had no idea one like it had sold that recently or I would have held onto mine for a while. Probably would have helped it some. Ebay is hard to predict sometime though, but I am usually very happy with my results there. Was and still am very happy with this sale, about a 15 to 1 return for me.

I hope someone can benefit from this little Cologne Bottle / Barber Bottle thread in the future. There is some good information here, Most of which I had never heard after over 25 years of collecting. Thank you everyone for all your input!!! We will holler at ya'll later!!!

Dan