Eight-Sided Amber Umbrella Ink Bottle with Open Pontil

Form & Structure

• Shape: The bottle features a classic umbrella profile—broad and squat with gently sloping shoulders tapering into a narrow neck. Its octagonal base adds  stability, a favored design for ink bottles to prevent tipping during use.
• Size: Typically small, designed to hold a modest quantity of ink, ideal for desk use in the mid-to-late 19th century.
• Neck & Rim: The neck rises cleanly from the shoulders, terminating in a slightly flared lip. This would have accommodated a cork or stopper, though many were left open for frequent access.

Material & Coloration

• Glass: Made of thick, hand-blown amber glass, rich in tone and slightly translucent. The hue ranges from deep brown to golden highlights depending on the light, offering both visual warmth and practical opacity to protect ink from light exposure.
• Surface: The glass bears subtle imperfections—striations, bubbles, and asymmetries—hallmarks of early glassblowing techniques. These add character and confirm its handmade origin.

Pontil Mark

• Open Pontil: The base retains a rough, unpolished pontil scar, indicating it was free-blown and detached from the pontil rod without finishing. This is a strong indicator of pre-1860s manufacture, before machine-molded bottles became widespread.