This is an authentic, mid-to-late 19th-century antique "Case Gin" (also historically referred to as a "Taper Gin") utility bottle, expertly preserved in as-found structural condition. Blown into a primitive square dip mold, the bottle features the signature four-sided tapered body that narrows uniformly from the wide, rounded shoulders down to an unembossed base.

Features outstanding whittling, prominent vertical cooling ridges, and heavy manufacturing stretch marks that give the glass an incredible, wavy primitive texture under light.

The glass itself is a rich, translucent medium-to-dark olive green, bordering on historical 'black glass' in areas of concentrated thickness. It is an exceptional specimen for collectors who prioritize intense textural crudity, exhibiting numerous trapped seed bubbles, stretch striations, and deep glass distortion throughout the walls.

The neck terminates in a crude, hand-applied tapered collar/lip that shows distinct tooling lines, glass gather asymmetry, and a slight characteristic lean. The base is an unpolished, smooth recessed cup-bottom with a well-defined square indentation, typical of utility containers from the third quarter of the 1800s.

Product Specifications

• Material: Hand-Blown / Dip-Molded Glass

• Color: Dark Olive Green / Olive Amber ("Black Glass")

• Bottle Type: Spirits / Case Gin / Taper Gin

• Estimated Age: Circa 1850–1880 (19th Century)

• Dimensions: Approximately 9" Height × 2.75" Width (at shoulder)

• Origin: European (Likely Dutch or English export market)

Condition Report

• Overall Status: Excellent, as-found antique condition with no cracks, chips, fractures, or structural restorations.

• Surface: The exterior retains its original high gloss and uncleaned glass patina. The interior exhibits faint, natural age-related residue and light mistiness/haze from historical storage. This has been left completely untouched to maintain structural and historical integrity.

• Manufacturing Crudities: The uneven finish of the applied lip and the jagged texture of the vertical cooling lines are completely original to the production process and do not constitute post-manufacturing damage.

Reference

• Book Title: American Glass

• Authors: George S. McKearin and Helen McKearin

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Item Description and Condition Disclaimer

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