A rare and early sealed half size ‘Onion’ wine bottle dated 1688 of olive-green tint, the small bulbous body with a short tapering neck and applied string rim, the shoulder applied with a large circular seal inscribed ‘R H/ 1688’ and a globe, with a basal ‘kick-up’.
Dated sealed bottles of the seventeenth century are extremely rare. This example was obviously excavated and, remarkably, has almost no damage. We mentioned that there are a few tiny chips to the edges of the string rim, mouth, and seal edge, but these are trivial – extremely minimal. Again, the surface of the bottle has discolored due to burial, and someone has covered it with a very thin coat of clear consolidator…it is quite attractive. The price reflects the condition. A dated half size seventeenth century bottle like this would cost twice the price had it not been buried. But the burial protected it from damages such as chipping and cracks.
Item Date: 1688
Measurement: Height: 5.25"
Material: Freeblown glass
Item Condition: There are a few tiny chips on the edges of the string rim, mouth, and a chip to the right side of the seal edge, but these are minimal. The surface of the bottle has discolored due to burial [brownish gold]. The bottle is covered with a very thin coat of clear consolidator. This beautiful little form displays well.
Literature: See David Burton: English Sealed Bottles and the families who owned them (2015), page 510. The seal may be associated with a Globe tavern, with R H as the tavern keeper, but the identity of the individual to whom the initials relate has not been positively established. No other bottle with this seal is recorded by Burton, however an 'Onion' bottle with a seal inscribed 'R H' with a globe and '1689' is recorded on page 511 and may be a misreading of 1688.
Price: $6,500
SKU 843-543
For More Information, Please Contact David Hillier at 978-597-8084 or email drh@aaawt.com.
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