“Dished Shield” Architectural Desk Ink Bottle

Description: A rare late 19th-century architectural desk ink bottle crafted from thick, heavy glass in a brilliant, luminous deep teal/peacock blue. The bottle features a classic semi-circular “dished shield” form, highlighted by flat, recessed arched panels on the front and back faces. The side profile presents a multi-faceted, six-sided contour that tapers elegantly into a rounded shoulder.

The glass is rich with historical character, exhibiting scattered tiny air pockets (“seed bubbles”) and a beautiful, rough, wavy texture (“whittle marks”) along the base where the molten glass cooled against the iron mold.

Manufacturing Details & Condition:  Date: Circa 1880–1895 (Pre-1900)

• Production Technique: Mouth-blown in a multi-part mold with a heavy, tooled ring lip finish. The vertical side seams fade cleanly out right beneath the collar, indicating hand-tool completion before the advent of automatic bottle machinery.
• Base: Heavy, thick, flattened post-bottom style base with a deep, raised rectangular inner recess. Shows character-rich cooling waves and an indistinct mold-alignment line.
• Condition: Excellent antique condition with no major flaws, chips, or cracks. Deep, clear color with fantastic clarity and internal luminescence.

Dimensions & Capacity:  Height: 3 ½”

• Width: 4 ⅛”
• Depth: 1 ⅝”
• Glass Thickness: Appx. ⅜” at the rim; appx. ¾” at the thickest point of the raised base.
• Capacity: Approximately 4 fluid ounces (slightly less if sealed with a cork).