Red 1800s pontil oil lamp base ground top

[GoingDigging]

Red 1800's pontil oil lamp base ground top

Crazy to have dug this from a dump. Any ideas on the decade it would date to, the type of pontil, exact color or a value is appreciated. Thanks.

 

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[Kevlardini]

Hey,
I was hoping someone with a bit more expertise would comment, but in the meantime...
I can tell you it's really cool. Also, does it have a distinct mold mark? And, can you get a head on picture of the pontil?

 

[GoingDigging]

Thanks. There is no mold mark. The pontil has no scar which is in more rare cases a result of different glass maker specifications. It might have been considered an eye sore to this higher quality color glass and refired to the point of glossing over. It is hard to see in the pictures that it is pontil but it is. Top and outside edges are ground carefully. Also there are vertical lines that faintly swirl up the sides radiating out from the pontil mark. This would indicate that the glass blower worked this detail into the glass during or before the forming process. This also of course means for sure not blown in mold. Like you said, I wish someone would jump on here and fill in the important details. Especially the age and pontil type(value).

 

[Kevlardini]

The grinding down of the top could help determine age. From what I've learned with old mason jars and such, they were ground down with a grinding wheel, which gave them a rough texture. These ones usually were pre-1850's. Smoother tops were usually later.
Have you found any other bottles from this dump? If so, you might be able to get an idea of from when it's from based on what was around it.

 

[GoingDigging]

Its the oldest dump in that town. Ive pulled pottery from 1860's and an 1850's us army brass buckle from an officers uniform with a big eagle on it. More specifically part of the sword holster. It can get very old there.

 

[jgas]

Privy Lamp. Nice color, hard to say exactly what color you would label it. Looks rose color. The pontil scar is typical of lamps dating to the civil war period. The sheared top is very common as well. Since you were going to put a metal lamp part on top there was no need to polish or grind it down. Ground lip finishes were made on several types of bottles dating to 1870 or so. This would include spice jars, masons and numerous utility bottles. As far as value goes, hard to say. If there was the actual lamp parts then I would venture $30 to $70. Without, much less. Although the color is whats nice and that is what people pay for. Regards, jgas