Why were many black glass ale bottles refired??

[Bent_Twig]

Hi folks!1

I am sure this has been discussed before but I dont seem to remember what the conclusion was. A lot of the black glass ale bottles have the nice pontiled base , but are often referred to as refired pontil. What purpose would this have served? So many other styles of bottles have jagged open pontils that could cut you if you was not careful. These were way up in a kicked up base and really did not seem to be a problem to have left them alone. What was wa the reasoning behind this? I have quite a few that are like this. Doews anyone have one with a jagged open pontil? I do have one that appears to be a type of sand pontil. I will post up some pictures.

Twig.

 

[Bent_Twig]

Another one.

 

[Bent_Twig]

Another

 

[Bent_Twig]

Another

 

[Bent_Twig]

This one has the sand pontil.

 

[Bent_Twig]

Some of the bottles.

 

[cyberdigger]

Maybe the thickness and consistency of the glass stayed warm enough that in the annealing oven, the pontil marks mellowed?

 

[kungfufighter]

I am of the strong opinion that bases were never "re-fired" in the period. Mouths yes, but bases no. What you see on the base of these objects is the application of a too hot or too cold pontil rod interacting with the bottle. Just my two cents...

In the end, a very cool feature but I don;t see re-firing as the cause...

 

[GuntherHess]

It doesnt seem reasonable that they would need to "re-fire" or "fire polish" any glass up inside a kick up. Even if that glass was sharp after empontilling its up where it would be out of the way. Plus these are cheap commodity wares not warranting any extra beautification.