Teal Aqua Umbrella Ink Bottle

This 1850s umbrella ink bottle is nice example of early American utilitarian glass. Given the color and form, it is very likely a product of a New England glass house, such as those in Stoddard or Keene, New Hampshire, which were prolific producers of these small, functional vessels.

Description

• Form & Body: The bottle features the iconic “umbrella” shape—a squat, conical form designed for maximum stability to prevent tipping on a desk. It is an eight-sided (octagonal) design, with sharp, well-defined panels that taper upward toward the neck. The facets are slightly uneven, a hallmark of being blown into a multi-part mold.
• Color: The glass is a vibrant teal-aqua (often referred to as “aquamarine” or “deep aqua”). The color is consistent throughout, though it deepens at the thickest points of the base and the applied lip, showing the characteristic clarity and “seed” bubbles (tiny air inclusions) typical of mid-19th-century glass.
• The Lip (Finish): It features a crudely applied lip. After the bottle was blown, a separate glob of molten glass was added to the neck and finished by hand with a lipping tool. This created a thickened, rounded ring at the mouth to provide strength and a secure seat for a cork.
• The Base (Open Pontil): The most significant diagnostic feature for collectors is the open pontil scar (also called a “glass-tipped pontil”) visible in the center of the base. This jagged, circular scar was left when the “punty” rod—used to hold the bottle while the lip was being finished—was snapped off. This confirms the bottle was hand-finished before the widespread adoption of the snap-case tool in the 1860s.

Historical Context & Value

Summary:

“A fine American Umbrella Ink, octagonal form, 1850s. Blown-in-mold teal aqua glass with a bold open pontil and an applied ring lip. Excellent glass character with minimal wear, representing a quintessential piece of mid-19th-century New England glassmaking.”