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JOHN R. WHITE use in descriptive reports, and 4) somehow, some degree of uniformity had to be brought to the material. Answers to letters written to numerous experts reinforced this need. Bottle Nomenclature: A Glossary The problem does not lie in the terminology of Landmark Terminology for the used in describing types of containers or types of materials. There are, fortunately, a number Archaeologist of experts who can tell the archaeologists new to the field almost everything they need to ABSTRACT know about shapes, uses, dates, material, Recognizing the lack of uniformity in the literature with styles, makers, and methods of bottle or regard to bottle nomenclature, an attempt is made to glassmaking. Unfortunately for most ar- provide some degree of consistency. The problem does chaeologists-and again this is especially true not lie entirely with the terminology currently being of the investigator newly amved in the field of used but rather with a lack of a precise definition of historic sites archaeology-the question they that terminology. Although not exhaustive, the glos- sary should be of assistance to the average archaeolo- need most answered is that for which the an- gist. swer is least available-the correct term to use in describing the bits and pieces of the artifact itself. In short, there is a need for a lexicon of introduction bottle nomenclature. It is true that at the back of some (but cer- Some efforts more than others take their rise tainly not most) longer articles and texts there out of necessity. So it is with the following-a is a glossary of terms. But a perusal of these respectfully complete, though somewhat short glossaries leaves the reader with the distinct of exhaustive, glossary of bottle nomencla- impression that while the more unusual terms ture. or those being applied in a unique way are Recent work carried out at two historic ar- defined, the more casual (and what end up be- chaeological sites in Northeastern Ohio, the ing most vague) terms are the ones which most Eaton (Hopewell) Furnace (33MH9) and the often are left undefined. Terms such as base, Austin Log House complex (33MH11) led to neck, lip, bead, collar, etc. are assumed to be the recovery of hundreds of bottles and bottle part of the reader’s vocabulary and are ig- fragments of various ages dating from the nored. it seems that these “easy” words are present back to the 1840’s. When the time by far the most difficult to grasp, the most came to describe these ubiquitous artifacts, elusive. Their elusiveness lies in their gener- the writer found himself in a quandary of fair ality, their universality, their ultimate sim- proportions, being totally unprepared for the plicity. abundance of terms being used to define and It is the goal of this paper to contain some of describe just the landmarks on glass bottles this elusiveness. Some of the definitions given and jars. The examination of texts and trea- herein can be found elsewhere in other forms, tises on bottles and bottlemaking soon led to some stated in ways which the reader might the inevitable conclusion that: 1) authors often perhaps find preferable to those here listed. have their own idiosyncratic terms for some However, most readers will find this lexicon landmarks; 2) some terms are used in different more complete than most, at least in the area ways (some slightly different, some grossly of bottle landmarks. As stated at the outset, different) by different authors; 3) terms in this endeavor arose out of need; it is not ex- common usage by the layman are often (if not haustive, especially to the bottle expert, but it usually) too imprecise (or even incorrect) for should help the average archaeologist. BOTTLE NOMENCLATURE 59 GLOSSARY Bull’s eye: The small, thick, translucent con- centration of glass occurring on pieces of Applied lip: A lip applied to the neck after the crown glass. It is the point at which the pon- bottle has been formed. It might be straight til was attached during rotation. (Figure la), flaring (Figure Ib), or contract- Bust-off and grind lip: Found on wide- ing (Figure IC) or just a ring of glass trailed mouthed bottles, it consists of a lip which around the opening. Many forms exist. was broken or sheared from the blowpipe and subsequently ground to a satin smooth- Bail: That part of a toggle device which is ness (Figure li). connected to the lever wire and passes over Buttons: Small knobs or protruberances on the lid holding it in place on the bottle or jar. the neck of bottles around which the lever Also called yoke. (Figure 3). wire of a toggle device was wrapped (Figure Basal diameter: The diameter across the base 13. of round or polygonal bottles. Base: The surface of the bottle on which it Chip marks: See whittle marks. rests when in an upright position; the bot- Closure: A device, such as a cork, cap, stop- tom (Figure 3). per, etc., used to seal a bottle. Bead: A raised ridge of glass having a convex Closure Sidewall: The portion of the closure section which encircles the neck of a bottle. between the rolled edge and the top of the The term itself can be applied to any such skirt (Figure lk). circle or molding; also a modifier indicating Closure skirt: The vertical part of a closure its specific location e.g. closure bead (Fig- which fits to the outside of the bottle finish. ure Id), collar bead, (or beaded collar) (Fig- It includes the closure sidewall, curl or ure le), etc. rolled edge, and/or flange (Figure lk). Beaded seal: A bottle that makes its seal or Codd ball stopper: See Codd stopper. point of maximum contact on a beaded ridge Codd ‘tface”: The appearance of a “face” which encircles the bottle neck (Figure If). given to Codd stopper bottles by virtue of Bernadin disc: A metal (usually tin) disc the addition of a pair of indentations in the placed over wired cork stoppers to prevent bottle below the neck. These indentations them from being cut deeply by the taut wire. served to catch the marble before it could These discs were often made with scalloped reseal the bottle. edges to prevent slippage (Figure Ig). Codd stopper: (After Hiram Codd) A closure Black glass: The name given to a thick, dark consisting of a glass marble held by pressure olive green glass. Often a container for against a ring of cork or rubber which rested porter or ale. in a groove which encircled the inside top of Blob top: The name given to the thick, the neck. The seal was broken by pressing rounded lip usually applied to the neck of down on the marble and sending it down bottles containing carbonated liquids (Fig- into the bottles’ contents (Figure 11). Also ure lh). Codd ball stopper. Bottle glass green: The natural aquamarine Coil: See continuous thread. color of bottle glass resulting from the Cold mold marks: See whittle marks. presence of iron oxides in the sand. Collar: A band, bead, or ring of glass applied Bottom plate: The shallow depression in the to and encircling the finish of a bottle. It bottom of machine-made bottles and jars may sit immediately adjacent to the lip or designed to allow for stability and to serve some distance below it (Figure 2i). as a nest for the closure of another bottle Continuous thread (C.T.): A continuous spiral when stacking containers. projecting glass ridge encircling the finish of 60 HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY, VOLUME 12 F7 a b C d 3ernadii disc I I e 4 s denotes sealing points f Rh I i i k I Ce-LDimple m n 0 P w FIGURE 1. Illustrations of bottle landmarks and nomenclature BOTTLE NOMENCLATURE 61 /? a 0b C d Helical slot I e f R9 h ' Neck lugs I i R Paragon k I \ s denotes sealing points s denotes sealing points I m n 0 P FIGURE 2. Illustrations of bottle landmarks and nonmenclature. 62 HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY, VOLUME 12 a bottle intended to mesh with the thread of Flashing: The method where a decorative a screw-type closure. Also called helix or effect is achieved by dipping white or clear coil (Figure lm). glass in a batch of colored glass to coat it. Cover groove: In Lightning-type closures it is Also called plating. a groove of varying lengths which sits atop Flat base: A base which is as flat as produc- the closure and receives the yoke or bail. It tion will allow. keeps the closure from slipping (Figure 3). Flint glass: A heavy, leaded glass of high Crown cap: A metal closure usually faced with quality with high refractive power, and cork which has its edges crimped over the great luster used in the choicest cut glass- rounded lip of a bottle (Figure In). ware. Curl: See rolled edge. Frosted: The sand-blasted or satiny appear- Cut glass: Glass decorated by incising the sur- ance given to glass as a result of exposure to face with iron or stone wheels. the abrasive nature of the elements. Date line: The vertical mold seam or mold line Gasket: A liner applied between the sealing on a bottle. Called such because it can often surface of the bottle lip and the closure to be used to approximate the date of manufac- provide the ultimate seal (Figure In). ture. Also called seam or seam line (Figure Gilding: The method wherein glass is deco- 3). rated by painting brown gold oxide on it Dimple: The small depression or hole on the then refiring it.

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