Teal “Turtle” Inkwell with Embossed Bird

Teal “Turtle” Inkwell with Embossed Bird

• Form: This is a classic “turtle” or “igloo” style inkwell, characterized by a low, domed body with a central cylindrical neck. This shape was designed for stability on a desk (hard to tip over) and a low center of gravity.
• Color: The glass is a distinct light teal green (often called “aqua” or “aquamarine” by collectors). This natural color comes from iron impurities in the sand used to make the glass and was standard for utilitarian bottles of the 19th century.
• Decoration: The dome features an embossed design of a bird perched on a branch with leaves. The embossing is stylized, typical of mold-blown glass from this era.
• Finish: The top of the lip is ground flat. This is a key manufacturing detail (see below). The base shows a smooth base with no pontil scar, indicating it was held by a snap case during finishing.

How was it made?

This inkwell was blown in a mold (BIM).

1. Molding: The glassblower blew a bubble of hot glass into a two-piece metal mold (you can see the vertical mold seams running up the sides).
2. Cracking Off: Once blown, the bottle was removed from the mold. The neck would have been longer initially. It was scored and “cracked off” to the desired height.
3. Grinding: The rough, sharp edge left by the crack-off process was then ground down against a stone or wheel to create a flat, smooth surface. You can clearly see the frosted, flat surface of the lip. This “ground lip” finish is a definitive dating characteristic for inkwells of this period.

Who made it and where?

• Maker: This specific “Bird on Branch” pattern is attributed to J. & I. E. Moore.
• Origin: The Moore brothers operated a glassworks in Clayton, New Jersey (the Fislerville Glass Works).
• Date: Circa 1860s–1870s. The ground lip finish and the specific color/style are hallmarks of the Civil War and post-Civil War era (roughly 1860–1880).