Glass Ink bottles are utilitarian artifacts that can be simple or ornate, and many different types of people from all walks of life and socioeconomic backgrounds have used them.
The earliest examples of glass ink bottles made from glass were free blown. This type of bottle is identified by scarring and unevenness in the glass. Mold-blown bottles were next to be manufactured. The scarring was no longer present, and the two early methods of this type of bottle manufacturing had specific finishes on the tops of the bottles. Rolled or folded finishes gave the bottles a smoother look, and applied finishes were created using additional glass to form flare or ring designs. Tool finishes were unique and gave bottles a cleaner look. Bottles made with the automatic bottle machine were introduced in the early 1900s. These could be produced more rapidly and have a consistent appearance. Typically, the bottles used by ink makers were shipped in from outside bottle makers. Many do not include maker’s marks, but by researching old advertising, some makers can be matched to their product.
Before the 1950s, glass ink bottles were produced in a wide variety of colors. The colors also help date the bottles. Colorless bottles were hard to produce since they required very pure ingredients. Therefore, they were uncommon in glass ink bottle manufacturing until the 1870s. After the creation of the automatic bottle machine in 1910, colorless glass became the most common. Aqua was uncommon after 1920 and cobalt after the 1930s.
The shape of glass ink bottles also varied widely. Ink bottles can be square, conical, rectangular, octagonal, and more. Shapes such as cottages, barrels, domes, and igloos were also popular. Different shapes are also helpful in dating ink bottles. Thousands of patents were issued for the different shaped ink bottles.
