This is an incredible little "wald glas" pocket bottle blown in the German half post method and patterned with vertical ribs over swirled ribs. Standing just 8.25 centimeters (3.25 inches) tall this little bottle dates anywhere from the late 16th century to the mid seventeenth century. Just last year a very similar example to this bottle was unearthed at Torre Abbey in Torquay, England (pictures attached) in a late 16th century context. A small number of these bottles have also been excavated in London over the years. A wonderful article on these early wrythen flasks can be read here and it also shows the other known examples found in the Museum of London - http://www.theglassmakers.co.uk/pdffiles/ovalwrythenflasks.pdf What sets this one apart from the other known examples is that it was patterned twice with the ribs and not just once, giving it a wonderful broken swirl effect. As the article in the link states, fragments of these small wrythen flasks have been found on "several late 16th and 17th century English glasshouse sites, including Hutton, Bickerstaffe andHaughton Green, lending weight to the possibility that they were manufactured in England as well as on the Continent." Whether English or Continental, this is a very rare and early little survivor. This bottle amazingly was never buried and has never been professionally cleaned and this may be the only one having that distinction. The only condition issue aside from the normal body wear found on a bottle that is 400 years old, is a small open bubble on the inside at the bottom of the neck. The lip is a bit irregular but it was made that way and not damaged. The small handled jug shown next to this bottle in my last photograph will be listed in the near future. Here is a link to an example at Museum of London - https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/collections/v/object-465925/bottle/
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Robert Girouard Antiques
SKU: 1297
$5,750.00Price
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