Wine Bottle
About 1670 (made)
Object Type
Although thinly-blown glass bottles had been used since Roman times for storing precious liquids, it was not until the invention of the English 'black' bottle that the material could also claim strength as a characteristic. The bubble of glass with long neck was also the quickest and cheapest container that could be made by a glass-blower.
Time
The invention of the dark-green 'black' bottle coincided with the Restoration of Charles II in 1660 and a period of great prosperity and social climbing. An obvious way to impress guests at the dining table was to serve wine from bottles bearing one's name, coat of arms or crest. These applied stamped seals or medallions were clearly inspired by those on imported German stoneware bottles, which the new wine bottles were largely replacing.
Design & Designing
The form of the 'shaft and globe' wine bottle was dictated largely by its function: the heavy base, with pushed-in recessed 'kick', made the object stable and was almost indestructable, while the vulnerable neck was reinforced by a 'string rim' of applied glass that enabled the cork to be secured with thread or wire. So ideal was this vessel for its purpose that echoes of its main characteristics may be seen in any modern wine bottle, although after the mid-18th century the cylindrical bottle, designed to be stored flat, became the standard form.
Although thinly-blown glass bottles had been used since Roman times for storing precious liquids, it was not until the invention of the English 'black' bottle that the material could also claim strength as a characteristic. The bubble of glass with long neck was also the quickest and cheapest container that could be made by a glass-blower.
Time
The invention of the dark-green 'black' bottle coincided with the Restoration of Charles II in 1660 and a period of great prosperity and social climbing. An obvious way to impress guests at the dining table was to serve wine from bottles bearing one's name, coat of arms or crest. These applied stamped seals or medallions were clearly inspired by those on imported German stoneware bottles, which the new wine bottles were largely replacing.
Design & Designing
The form of the 'shaft and globe' wine bottle was dictated largely by its function: the heavy base, with pushed-in recessed 'kick', made the object stable and was almost indestructable, while the vulnerable neck was reinforced by a 'string rim' of applied glass that enabled the cork to be secured with thread or wire. So ideal was this vessel for its purpose that echoes of its main characteristics may be seen in any modern wine bottle, although after the mid-18th century the cylindrical bottle, designed to be stored flat, became the standard form.
Object details
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Free-blown glass |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | With unidentified arms on the seal |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
GLASSWARE FOR WINE Consumption of alcohol was a driving force behind developments in glass-making. George Ravenscroft (1632-1681) produced mainly beer and wine glasses, of which few have survived. The personalised 'black' bottle for storing wine in good condition was a product of the prosperous Restoration period, while the decanter-jug showed the beauty of the wine on the table.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Lent by the Museum of London |
| Object history | Made in England |
| Summary | Object Type Although thinly-blown glass bottles had been used since Roman times for storing precious liquids, it was not until the invention of the English 'black' bottle that the material could also claim strength as a characteristic. The bubble of glass with long neck was also the quickest and cheapest container that could be made by a glass-blower. Time The invention of the dark-green 'black' bottle coincided with the Restoration of Charles II in 1660 and a period of great prosperity and social climbing. An obvious way to impress guests at the dining table was to serve wine from bottles bearing one's name, coat of arms or crest. These applied stamped seals or medallions were clearly inspired by those on imported German stoneware bottles, which the new wine bottles were largely replacing. Design & Designing The form of the 'shaft and globe' wine bottle was dictated largely by its function: the heavy base, with pushed-in recessed 'kick', made the object stable and was almost indestructable, while the vulnerable neck was reinforced by a 'string rim' of applied glass that enabled the cork to be secured with thread or wire. So ideal was this vessel for its purpose that echoes of its main characteristics may be seen in any modern wine bottle, although after the mid-18th century the cylindrical bottle, designed to be stored flat, became the standard form. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:MUSOFLONDON.64-2001 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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