Glass Message Board

Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: bfg on April 30, 2013, 06:52:14 PM

Title: tortoiseshell bottle, ID help appreciated please
Post by: bfg on April 30, 2013, 06:52:14 PM
evening!

Found this today, sparkling in the morning sunshine in the window of a local antique shop. Wasn't looking for it but it sort of called out to me so we're all on beans on toast again this week  ::)

questions, questions.

what is it? shop keep started with ships decanter and settled on apothecary bottle

any idea of age? there is a neat ground pontil mark but it's not polished, a circle of shelf wear to the base

is the stopper original? or contemporary with it or just there?

and country of origin?

it weighs over 1.5kgs and is 7.5 inches  high x 8 inches wide

after the tragedy of my once bowl now bookends I 've finally got another piece of tortoiseshell  :)

thanks for any comments

Mel





Title: Re: tortoiseshell bottle, ID help appreciated please
Post by: Wayne on May 01, 2013, 06:29:08 AM
Hi Mel, probably impossible to say for sure, but I think it could be Italian/Empoli.  The pontil mark sounds and looks about right (ground but not polished),  and some tortoiseshell glassware was made by the CLAVE company (quite possibly others too).  There was an Italian museum website with a few tortoiseshell examples a while ago, which has since vanished unfortunately.

Not sure about the stopper, but I'd guess at not original, and I'd guess at 1970's-ish.
Title: Re: tortoiseshell bottle, ID help appreciated please
Post by: bfg on May 01, 2013, 05:13:16 PM
thanks Wayne, yes tend to agree on all fronts

never could get that museum link to work but I'll have a look at Empoli & Clave

mel
Title: Re: tortoiseshell bottle, ID help appreciated please
Post by: chopin-liszt on May 01, 2013, 06:29:21 PM
I'm clueless and curious about this. It's just gorgeous.
I can't say amber and brown are colours i like - but I adore the shape - and whether or not the stopper is correct - it LOOKS good. It reminds me of ancient "onion" wine bottles. :)
Title: Re: tortoiseshell bottle, ID help appreciated please
Post by: bfg on May 03, 2013, 07:42:11 PM
thanks Sue, just noticed your reply - it is rather yummy and still sitting on the sideboard being admired by all :-)