OLD BOTTLES -- FORM & FUNCTION
Case Bottle Striae
LEFT: Case Gin, black (olive-green) glass, eleven inches tall, smooth base, applied lip, embossed on two sides AVANHOBOKEN | ROTTERDAM with an applied shoulder seal embossed AH. Dutch, circa 1870.
Note the parallel embossed lines on the exposed side of this bottle. These are present also on the opposite side of the bottle, uniformly spaced, vertical, and parallel. These striae are NOT present on the other two sides of the bottle, the two sides with the embossed lettering.
It appears that these striae were deliberately added to the mold for some purpose. One possibility is that the lines were added to enhance the appearance (more light reflection) of the bottle. Another possibility is that the grooved surface of the glass provides more surface area (thus greater adhesion) for a paper label.
RIGHT: Case gin bottle, black (olive-green) glass, 9.25 inches tall, applied lip, smooth base, probably Dutch, circa 1890.
This bottle has striae similar to the larger bottle, uniformly spaced, vertical, and parallel. The lines are on all four sides.
I speculate that the addition of these embossed lines are deliberate and functional, probably to enhance the appearance of the bottles, and possibly to make it easier to keep a paper label in place on the side. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
RESPONSES...
Peter Vermeulen, a Dutch researcher and author on case gin bottles, says: "The vertical parallel lines on bimal 19th century bottles are from iron moulds, so also not from the wood of wooden moulds. They were made to let the heat escape."
YOROB's "...best guess would be grip, and the other guess would be looks."
Barbara in Dunnellon suggests:
"They may have been decorative or to keep the bottle from slipping from a person's hands.... [or] ...the surface [may be] ridged to give it strength, or keep it from buckling, and help disperse heat...."
Thanks to everyone that responded. There may be something to this idea of increased structural rigidity resulting from the striae. The flat walls of case bottles must tend to slump in the critical moments after removal from the iron mold. The lines provide slightly-greater surface area, therefore quicker heat dissipation through radiation. The faster the bottle surface cools, the less tendency there is to slump. See the image below of a "slumpy" dip-mold blown case gin bottle from 1830-40's.
Beehive Bottle
Beehive-shape bottle, eleven inches tall and four inches wide at the base. Thin, colorless glass, pontil-scarred base, blown in a two-piece mold, crude applied lip. Probably dates to 1840-60. Use uncertain.
I have seen only one other such bottle...it was broken on the bottom of the Suwannee River at an old steamboat landing. I think it may be a pepper-sauce bottle, but I would like to have YOUR opinion about this bottle.
Thanks.
- - - - - - -Harry Pristis
Responses . . .
"Jazzy" says: "That bottle is very unusual. I would have to assume it held some low viscous type liquid that flows easily due to the nature of the bottle. Anything too viscous would be a pain in the neck to drain."
"Robert C. Woodbury" opines: "Usually the peppersauce bottles that I have seen aren't that big. I would guess that olive oil would be more suitable for this kind of vessel."
Steve in Australia says: "I would guess it's probably salad oil. I've never seen one that particular shape, but I have many similar size, same crude lip, etc."
"Yorob says peppersauce."
Thank you all for your suggestions and opinions. It seems reasonable to assume that this bottle contained a fluid of low viscosity such as vinegar. The size of this bottle is suitable for vinegar, based on a quick scan of Zumwalt's book. (The peppersauce with which I am familiar is a flavored vinegar.)
But, typical peppersauce bottles are smaller, and olive oil cannot be ruled out, though size of the bottle may not be definitive evidence either way. For illustration, I have added pics of a 10.5-inch tall, open-pontil bottle, also a river-find. This bottle is reportedly a peppersauce (based on the distinctively-molded kickup).
What do you think?
Large peppersauce? - thin, colorless glass, 10.5 inches tall, open-pontil scar, three-piece mold, crude applied lip.