trying to date a site, need help with bottle shard i.d.

Helix

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WP_20160224_13_54_11_Pro.webpWP_20160224_13_53_41_Pro.webpWP_20160224_13_53_26_Pro.webpThis was a surface find form a site that had seen alot of activity during the 1830-40s. My question is this shard of that time period. I can tell its was pontil or blown just by the thin glass on one side and thick on other. Also has large blob towards neck. I know pics are horrible but could this date to said time period???
 

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Helix I don't know much about bottles but have found this site immeasurable in helping with random bottle shards.

https://sha.org › bottle › finishes

In looking at these tooled lips you may be able to figure out and date the bottle lip you dug. Hope this helps.

image.webp
 

Helix I don't know much about bottles but have found this site immeasurable in helping with random bottle shards.

https://sha.org › bottle › finishes

In looking at these tooled lips you may be able to figure out and date the bottle lip you dug. Hope this helps.

View attachment 1277089

Hay CoilyGirl, thanks. I would say my shard looks the the "extract" lip in the pic you posted. I need to look into it further. Pontil era was over in about 1870s so I figure it at least that old. If I remember correctly pre industry revolution glass industry didn't change much in the way of technology. I'm done im rambling.
 

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Based on what I can see, I would date that piece in the 1890 era, give or take 10 yrs
 

Based on what I can see, I would date that piece in the 1890 era, give or take 10 yrs
. I see your point on the pictures are horrible. Well I have dug a bit and this has almost coin thin glass on one side of shard and 1/4" thick glass on opposite side. That reminds me of pontil shard?
 

And no seem, maybe slight something but nothing like an 1890s.
 

I agree with Bass, maybe even a little earlier though. It's hard to see from your pictures but that lip almost looks like it could be applied. If so you might be talkin' as early as the 1870s, but I wouldn't guess any earlier just based on this one shard. Bring us some more pieces, tops and bottoms, and good luck finding some whole bottles!
 

And no seem, maybe slight something but nothing like an 1890s.

No seam my indicate a turn mold bottle which could put it in the 1880+- time period. First though, is the bottle round and do you see any turn marks? I wouldn't date a site by one or two shards, especially if they are surface finds. Finding more artifacts to help substantiate the dating process. Where there is one shard...there are more there. Look forward to seeing what you get there.
 

Most important thing with the lip is to see if it is applied or tooled. If applied , it's pre 1874 +/-. I've see those flange style lips on bottles from the 1850's on.
 

This piece of glass has been pretty eaten up by the elements, but if you look closely in the forth attached image I think you can see a faint seam running up the middle of the neck, that goes up and under the lip, I still think it might be applied. 1870-1880 chemical sort of style bottle maybe?
 

Not bad, I agree its at least pre 1870s and yes it was a surface find. I should post something else.
 

Interesting that top is definitely applied also looks like it could be German half post with that ridge going around the base of the neck Which would make it older.
 

So, let me explain why I said 1890ish to Helix's question. I based my guess solely on what I can see in the pictures he posted (although I must confess I did not notice the sunken shoulder on the bottle in picture #4). I am including photos of the mouth/neck of a bottle I dug myself. I intentionally did not show the whole bottle. As you can see, we have the same style neck/mouth as Helix posted. ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1456440179.044986.webpImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1456440198.524091.webpImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1456440210.912352.webp.
This is typical for medicines/druggists/extracts of the later 1800's.
Helix's piece could in fact be older, no doubt about it. But if I had to make a guess based on what I can see, I would stick with the same era I stated originally.
The pictures I posted are from a druggist bottle and the owner was in business 1886-1907.
So, yes, Helix's shard could be older no doubt about it, and honestly, I hope it is.
The sunken shoulder does raise my eyebrow
 

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So, let me explain why I said 1890ish to Helix's question. I based my guess solely on what I can see in the pictures he posted (although I must confess I did not notice the sunken shoulder on the bottle in picture #4). I am including photos of the mouth/neck of a bottle I dug myself. I intentionally did not show the whole bottle. As you can see, we have the same style neck/mouth as Helix posted. View attachment 1277496View attachment 1277497View attachment 1277498.
This is typical for medicines/druggists/extracts of the later 1800's.
Helix's piece could in fact be older, no doubt about it. But if I had to make a guess based on what I can see, I would stick with the same era I stated originally.
The pictures I posted are from a druggist bottle and the owner was in business 1886-1907.
So, yes, Helix's shard could be older no doubt about it, and honestly, I hope it is.
The sunken shoulder does raise my eyebrow

At first glance it does look like a 1890s med finish very similar to the example you have shown. But in pic two you can tell it's an applied top from the exterior. And the ridge at the base of the neck is also intetesting. Being a shard though it's hard to tell because the rest of the bottle is not there the ridge could be a mould defect? I have never seen an aqua bottle with a German half post so I could be way wrong.
 

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It could be. I went to my laptop and pulled up his pictures on a larger screen. The sunken shoulder is very interesting. It is rather crude-looking. But, that does look like a seam running up the neck in picture 4 of his post
 

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The bottle shard appears to have an applied lip (probably). The shoulder wrinkle is a drip ring (odd that it appears to be a partial ring, requiring the proper orientation of the bottle to be effective). I'd say there's a good probability that this is from an 1870s - 1880s chemical/medicinal bottle. I'll add the demurrer that these guesses are based on poor-quality images.

Untitled-38.webpUntitled-39.webpUntitled-40.webp
 

I love the debate about this! I swear it looks applied. Helix man, you've gotta take a few more pictures, we've shown our enthusiasm about it and now you've gotta step up haha!

I've found 1880s-1890s bottles with very similar characteristics, yet tooled. But if you take a look at Helix's last pic I think you can see a seam that goes up and under the lip, and I think you can even see it melting down the neck just slightly. It's tricky because if it's applied, it was a job well done on the glassworker's part. I'm still thinking it's an 1870-1880 applied top chem of some sort.
 

Daaannggg Harry Pristis good detective work! See guys, look at that third image of Harry's, definitely a seam, not turn moulded. And in the second pic you can see the lip flopping over onto the neck body, like it's a totally separate piece.
 

Awesome work with the photoshop Harry. I agree, we need more discussions like this one.
 

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