Teal Octagonal Umbrella Ink Bottle

This is a nice example of a 19th-century “umbrella” ink bottle, so named for its multi-sided, conical shape that resembles an open umbrella. These were utilitarian items, but the vibrant color and primitive manufacturing details make them of interest today.

Description

• Form: This is an 8-sided (octagonal) umbrella ink. The body consists of eight panels that taper upward from a wide base to a narrow, cylindrical neck.
• Color: A deep, vibrant teal or aquamarine green. This color is often the result of natural iron impurities in the sand used during the glass-making process, common in 19th-century American glass houses.
• Finish (Lip): The bottle features a folded-in (rolled) lip. This was a common finishing technique where the glassblower folded the hot glass inward to create a smooth, reinforced rim for the cork.
• Condition & Glass Character: The glass is filled with “seed bubbles” and at least one prominent pot stone (a small piece of unmelted batch material or furnace lining), which adds character and confirms its early, less-refined production.

Age and Manufacturing

Given the features and the New Orleans find-site, this bottle likely dates to the mid-to-late 19th century (c. 1840–1880).

• Smooth Base: Since the base is smooth rather than having a jagged pontil scar, it was likely held by a “snap case” tool during the finishing of the lip. This suggests a production date after the 1840s, as the use of the pontil rod began to decline in favor of the snap case through the 1850s and 60s.
• Blow-Back Mold: The vertical seams visible on the panels indicate it was blown into a multi-part mold.
• Regional Context: Bottles found in historic New Orleans from this era were often imported from major glass centers in the Northeast (like those in South Jersey or Pennsylvania) or even Europe, as New Orleans was a massive trade hub.

Technical Summary

The presence of the pot stone is a “fingerprint” of 19th-century industrial glass—while technically a “flaw,” it is a badge of authenticity for a dug bottle from this period.