Author Topic: Boston & Sandwich? Vaseline bottle - pitting. (Read 6524 times)

Max · « **on:** November 15, 2005, 01:03:52 PM »

This is a little uranium perfume bottle (about 5") I picked up recently. It's got a strange pitting all over - I can't work out why. Any ideas?

Mod: New images uploaded June 2010 (PS: I'd just painted the garage doors, so hence the vile fingernail!)

Ivo · « **Reply #1 on:** November 15, 2005, 01:16:42 PM »

Are you sure it is not sugar coated like this ashtray?
http://tinypic.com/fopx05.jpg
http://tinypic.com/fopwu9.jpg

Max · « **Reply #2 on:** November 15, 2005, 01:31:22 PM »

Quote from: "Ivo"

Are you sure it is not sugar coated like this ashtray?
http://tinypic.com/fopx05.jpg
http://tinypic.com/fopwu9.jpg

Hi Ivo

No, it's definitely pitted. If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say the surface of the piece was corrupted/corroded somehow. Almost as if it had been buried. I did consider that it had been, but to find a bottle in a dig with it's stopper seemed unlikely.

Maybe it was always like that, just a cheap piece of trinket ware?

Ivo · « **Reply #3 on:** November 15, 2005, 01:45:35 PM »

Could it be scavo, or a nasty accident at acid polishing? It does not look coincidental - if it is, the fitting of the stopper should have it too, and not close properly...

Max · « **Reply #4 on:** November 15, 2005, 02:22:11 PM »

Quote from: "Ivo"

Could it be scavo, or a nasty accident at acid polishing? It does not look coincidental - if it is, the fitting of the stopper should have it too, and not close properly...

You should have been a detective :wink: I didn't think to look at the surface of the stopper - it's very smooth! I wouldn't call the finish attractive, so perhaps it was an accident during polishing.

I have to go look up acid polishing now. :lol:

Adam · « **Reply #5 on:** November 15, 2005, 06:52:21 PM »

I can only be negative here and say that I don't know what it is, but I've never seen anything like that done with acid. Anyway, why would anyone want to acid polish a mould blown article? Unless someone has invented something new while I wasn't looking, acid polishing only works with a high lead glass. Is it very heavy?

Adam D.

Max · « **Reply #6 on:** November 15, 2005, 07:25:38 PM »

Quote from: "Adam"

Is it very heavy?

Adam D.

No, it's quite light Adam. Maybe it has been dug up then...I suppose we'll never know! :roll: Thanks for your input xx

Frank · « **Reply #7 on:** November 15, 2005, 10:02:13 PM »

Looks too regular to be accidental, a failed experiment.

Lots of bottles with tops come out of digs but I don't this one did. I would lean towards a test piece that no one liked... or everyone that got one for Xmas threw it away.

Max · « **Reply #8 on:** November 16, 2005, 07:05:24 PM »

This is totally bonkers! I was Google image searching for a charger Ivo put up for identification, and suddenly an image of my perfume bottle came up!

How bizarre!!! It's attributed to: Boston & Sandwich Glass Co. cologne bottle, c. 1840-1870.

Please have a look at the link:

http://www.vaselineglass.org/factory.html You'll have to scroll down a bit...but it's identical...isn't it?? :shock: :?

PS: I've written to the website and included a photo.

Ivo · « **Reply #9 on:** November 16, 2005, 09:10:26 PM »

Not surprised. I just leafed through the B&S book and did not find it - but then I only have volume 1, not 2, 3 and 4 - but there are many stylistic similar items in the early B&S produce.