Back Bar Bitters Bottle

mudbug

Recent "find" is what appears to be a 'Back Bar Bitters Bottle', ornately etched with "Orange B" and surrounding etched scrolling. It is 7" tall with a bulbous bottom...no markings on bottom. Seams come up the long neck but not to the top of neck. I have tentatively dated it pre-1910 as the seam does not go up to top of lip, but it may actually pre-date 1880 as the seam does not reach top of neck. Would love insight you may have. Many thanks...

BobB

The form is referred to as 'shaft & globe', seen in wine bottles & decanters from the 1600s on. You are correct; "Orange B" has to be Orange Bitters. Since the language is English and bitters seems to be an American concoction, it's probably American. U.S. pressed glass company catalogs ca.1875-1895 show lots of copper-wheel engraved decorating such as this label in a wreath of ferns. Better quality examples during this period would be blown & cut (i.e. the 8 flutes around the neck); though the engraving is probably done at the factory, that label gives it a little class. You could probably find 25 similar mundane bottles for one with as nice an engraved label. Maybe Chris can hone in a little better on the era of manufacture based on seams and mouth.