Teal Green Ink Bottle – 12 Panels

This teal green ink bottle is a good example of mid-19th-century glassmaking, characterized by its vibrant color and early manufacturing techniques.

Physical Description

• Form: The bottle features a squat, robust body with 12 distinct vertical panels. This faceted design was not only aesthetic but provided a better grip for the user.
• Color: It is blown in a rich teal or aquamarine green glass, a color often associated with iron impurities in the sand used during the period.
• Shoulder and Neck: The panels terminate at a sloped shoulder that leads to a short, cylindrical neck.
• Finish: The mouth features a sheared and inward-rolled lip, a common finish for ink bottles of this era to help prevent dripping and allow for a cork seal.

Base and Manufacturing

• Pontil Mark: The base displays an open pontil scar. This jagged, circular mark indicates the bottle was held by a pontil rod while the mouth was being finished, dating the piece likely between the 1840s and 1860s.
• Glass Texture: The glass contains “seed bubbles” and slight striations, typical of early mold-blown glass before the refinement of modern manufacturing.

Historical Context

Twelve-sided paneled inks are a classic “utility” form. While many were produced in standard aqua, the deep teal hue of this specimen makes it particularly desirable for collectors. These were mass-produced but still individually finished, meaning no two pontil scars or lip rolls are exactly alike.