Revolutionary War Onion Bottle, ca. 1710 – 1750, as in museums

This is a beautiful 18th century piece being offered, it is a Colonial Onion bottle. It measures 7” tall with a 5 1/2” base diameter. It has a crude open Pontil mark on the kick up base, along with the typical early glass air bubbles. It has a crude sheared flared out hand applied string lip. The bottle is a dark olive green, so they began to be known as “black glass”.              

Onion bottles were the shape of bottles used during the 18th century. They were most commonly used to hold wine but were also used for other spirits. At the beginning of the 17th century wine bottles were small and thin glassed, making them difficult to store and ship.

A method of making stronger glass with hotter furnaces began to evolve which was the beginning of the onion bottle shape. This shape gradually evolved to be stouter with a wide base and short neck, reaching its height at the end of the 17th century before becoming more elongated during the onset of the 18th century.

Onion bottles remained popular through the Revolutionary War until the end of the 18th century. They were very durable, so they kept being reused – people would go to their local tavern, and have it filled with the spirits they desired.  

They are on display at the Colonial Williamsburg Museum, the Fort Plains Museum, and the Guilford Courthouse Museum (see pictures). Also, there are shards of glass often found at Revolutionary War forts and sites (see pictures). Onion bottles are also shown in “Collector’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution” by Neumann & Kravic (see pictures).

This bottle is in nice condition, with no cracks or chips. As you would expect, it shows the signs of being over 250 years old – a good cleaning and polishing could be done if desired….I myself like the way it shows now.

Revolutionary War artifacts have always been difficult to find. With the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding this year, there is a revitalized interest. Just about all Revolutionary War relics and artifacts are in demand, which only adds to their scarcity and price. I am seeing a substantial increase in sales.