Purple Amethyst Cone Ink Bottle – Marked “CARTER’S”

This rare purple amethyst cone ink bottle is a standout example of late 19th-century American glass, combining a highly desirable scarce branding variant with exceptional color saturation.

Form and Branding

• The Cone Shape: This utilitarian bottle features the classic tapered cone form, specifically designed for desk stability.
• Scarce Branding: The bottle is embossed with “CARTER’S” around the shoulder ring. Finding the Carter’s name on these smaller cone forms is considered a scarce variant, as many were left unbranded or only featured paper labels.

Manufacturing and Glass Character

• Production Method: This piece was hand-blown in a mold, which is evidenced by the presence of tiny bubbles (“seeds”) and faint stretch marks within the glass.
• The Finish: It features a tool-finished collar and an applied ring. The ring shows a characteristic “drip” texture where the molten glass was wrapped around the neck during the manufacturing process.
• Base: The bottle possesses a 2.5-inch base, providing the low center of gravity necessary to prevent tipping when dipping a pen.

Exceptional Amethyst Coloration

• Manganese Reaction: The rich, deep amethyst hue is the result of a solarization process. Late 19th-century glass formulas used manganese as a decoloring agent to make glass appear clear; however, decades of exposure to UV sunlight cause a chemical reaction that turns the glass violet.
• Intensity: This specific bottle has achieved a natural deep violet tone, which is significantly stronger and more prized than the more common light lavender examples.

Condition Summary

• Integrity: The bottle is free of cracks or chips.
• Age Markers: It displays “honest age wear” and early-glass characteristics, including surface swirling and internal inclusions that confirm its authentic 19th-century origin.