What is a Pontil mark on a bottle?
A pontil mark or punt mark is the scar where the pontil, punty or punt was broken from a work of blown glass. The presence of such a scar indicates that a glass bottle or bowl was blown freehand, while the absence of a punt mark suggests either that the mark has been obliterated or that the work was mold-blown.
When did pontil stop?
Pontil scars on all types of “utilitarian bottles” (discussed below) became ever increasingly unusual as the 1860s progressed and largely disappeared by the late 1860s or early 1870s as various “snap” or snap case tools dominated the task of grasping the hot bottle for finishing (click on the previous link to view the …
How can you tell if glass is blown in mold?
Examine the Handle and Seams In the case of molded glass, the handle is often part of the mold and shows a seamless attachment to the base of the vase. If you can tell where the handle has been added to the base, it may be made from blown glass. Blown glass may have other seams too.
How many bottles are in a 1910 bottle?
Extract-Bottle Display, Applied Top and Machine Made Cork Top Bottles. 1910-1920 (SET OF 6 BOTTLES)
What’s the best way to date a glass bottle?
In addition to technology, products and manufacturers, certain types of glass colors will also aid in dating. Examine the bottle’s symmetry. Asymmetry is an indication of a hand-blown bottle. Look for mold seams.
When did the US start issuing design patents?
A design patent is issued for form rather than function. These were numbered separately from utility patents and began in 1854. It is interesting to note that the US government started issuing patents in 1790 but did not start numbering them until 1836.
What makes a glass bottle not have a pontil mark?
In the middle of the 1800s, a snap tool was invented which let a glass blower or gaffer hold a glass bottle without a rod. This tool eliminated the sharp pontil mark (the broken end of the glass rod) at the base of a bottle. So, the lack of a pontil mark is actually a clue to age.