willong
Well-Known Member
Don't know when I'll have the time to dig through my old bottle books to find it--the "text string search" function is really clunky on printed volumes--but I'm pretty sure that at least one of them made reference to such etching-embellished, turn-mold bottles being manufactured to market ostensibly premium wines and/or liquor. Champagne was a popular drink in the late 19th century from what I've read--I think even Mark Twain got a little snooty about it.I believe I have one of these bots as well. If I had to render a guess--wedding/party favor. Maybe "chapponya."
Hey, Will, et al, I believe metal workers of the same time period, used a similar approach.-- The "lost wax process" when making the mold for statues, etc.
That ancient art of lost wax casting is another one of those crafts that I'll never live long enough to try my hand at; but I've always been intrigued by the process. Perfecting application of the lost wax process to investment casting firearms made Sturm, Ruger and Company rich. I still preferred machined-from-forgings Smith & Wesson revolvers and pistols, though I sold both brands (I owned and operated a firearms and archery tackle shop for ten years until the logging industry, which employed most of my customers on the Olympic Peninsula, crapped out in the 1980's as a result of Spotted Owl protections).