LONDON HISTORIC BOTTLE HELP PLEASE!

[AP_EFFECTS]

Deepbluedigger thanks for your knowledge, I’m adding a better close-up of the base - it looks like in the initial concave there’s a smaller one that’s edge is well defined( approximately the diameter of a tennis ball. Would this have been made by a former to push the base into shape? Is the second more defined indentation standard for bottles of that age?

I just got some info on the history of Hampstead. The site was located on road down from Burgh House

Fenton House was built in 1693. It takes its name from an 18th century merchant called Philip Fenton, who lived there.

In the 18th century Hampstead became a spa town after a certain Dr Gibbons discovered that water from the spring had healing properties.

In the 18th century many grand houses were built in Hampstead. Burgh House was built in 1702. (It now houses a museum) .Kenwood House was first built in 1616. It was rebuilt in the 1760s for the First Earl of Mansfield by Robert Adam.

In the 18th century Hampstead contained a marsh called Hatches Bottom. In the 1770s it was drained and in 1800 it was built upon and it was renamed rather optimistically, Vale of Health.

Hampstead grew rapidly in the 18th century as rich Londoners moved there. By 1801 Hampstead had a population of 3,343. It would seem small to us but by the standards of the time it was quite a large place. Many provincial market towns were smaller.

 

[Steve/sewell]

Nice Bottle Anthony,
In his book Antique Glass Bottles There History and Evolution (1500-1850) Aouthor and collector Willie Van Den Bossche lists a bottle very similar to yours in color and size on page 73 ( This is a must book for all collectors of early glass). It is the same color olive amber maybe a tad lighter plus yours was long buried and the one depicted below either was professionally cleaned or never saw the earth. He puts the date as early in the 1700s. Your bottle is slightly taller by maybe an inch,and additionally I do see in the picture similar lines in the neck as your bottle suggesting these marks are no accident but probably grip points for either a wicker type cover which would have a handle attached to it and the grooves kept the wicker from slipping left to right when pouring or the lines were just placed there for better grip when pouring upside down into your mouth. Great bottle congratulations on finding it.Sorry for the poor picture quality I have to run out it is the best I could do.

 

[fer_de_lance]

Anthony,
A very desirable bottle that falls into the form of a transition from onion to mallet with a classic English string lip. I could not view the photo of bottom but other aspects point towards English manufacture of the early 1700's. It would be a welcome addition to any early wine bottle collection. If it would like a home in the new world I would be happy to accommodate it.

Tim

 

[fer_de_lance]

thanks for the photo. Looks like a sand pontil scar and it is normal to have the smaller or secondary mark that in my examples is more of a snapped or jagged scar comparatively

 

[deepbluedigger]

The lines on the neck are simply stretch marks from the manufacture, and weren't put there deliberately or for any specific purpose. The necks on this kind of bottle were formed by swinging the bubble of glass backwards and forwards on the end of the blowing iron, literally stretching the glass. Lines like that are usually slightly twisted due to the blower rotating the iron while swinging it to and fro.

 

[sandchip]

Great find, Anthony!

 

[Steve/sewell]

Hi Jerry,
I have seen the marks you speak of and have them on many of the old free blown bottles in my collection. These look deeper and straighter to me from the picture Robert posted. Most likely it is what you stated but there is an outside chance something gripped the neck area while annealing. Just a little conjecture.

 

[Steve/sewell]

Roberts picture

 

[deenodean]

Awesome find !!

 

[glass man]

WELCOME TO THE FORUM!Man got to be great to dig a great bottle like yours!!JAMIE