Amethyst Ink Bottle

This is an 8-sided umbrella ink bottle made of amethyst-colored glass. Its features are consistent with hand-blown bottles from the mid-19th century in the United States.

• Shape: The bottle has a distinct “umbrella” shape, characterized by its wide, conical body that tapers upward to a narrow, cylindrical neck. The body itself is faceted with eight vertical panels or sides.
• Color: The glass is a striking amethyst or purple color.
• Construction: The bottle is hand-blown, as evidenced by the faint ripples and irregularities in the glass. The base and overall form lack the uniform precision of machine-made bottles.
• Lip: The lip of the bottle is sheared, meaning it was cut or “sheared” with a tool while the glass was still hot and molten. This process left a somewhat uneven and sharp edge, a characteristic of early bottle manufacturing before more refined finishing techniques were developed.
• Mold Seam: A straight line hinge mold seam is visible on the bottom of the bottle. This indicates that a two-part mold was used to shape the bottle’s body. The “hinge” is a faint line where the two halves of the mold met. While a mold was used to give it its shape, the finishing—particularly the lip and neck—was done by hand, confirming its early production era.
• Size: The bottle stands approximately 2 ½ inches high. Its small size is typical for ink bottles of this period.