Found this today in a run off area near 3 cellar holes in W PA. Found 3 IHP's nearby1800's. Any idea on what this style of glass "jar" was used for and date range?
Olive or pickle jar. If there isn't a vertical seam on the lip, it was attached after the jar was molded. Late 19th century maybe. Leave it on a window sill in the sun. It may turn more purple.
I think I see a vertical seam on the jar. If there isn't one, then it could be much older, being all hand blown.
Manganese oxide was used as a decolorizing agent to make soda glass (normally a light greenish tint) colorless. Years of exposure to UV rays from the sun gave it the amethyst tint. The use of Mn ended when we entered WWI in order to help the war effort. You'll see bottles in antique stores that normally would be clear, but have a deep violet color, which have been put in foil-lined boxes under grow-lights in order to accelerate the process. This practice is normally frowned upon by serious bottle collectors.