Unusual colonial black glass piece

[Bill D. (VA)]

Dug this recently at the c1650-1750 trash pit I've been digging in for several years, and where a large number of dated and/or monogrammed bottle seals have been recovered. My partner Stan told me he thought this was from a rare bell jar, and that these are rarely seen whole or in frags. I know there's not much to go on, but does anyone recognize this piece, and if so can you provide some info? Thanks.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

How to Research for Treasure Hunting and Metal Detecting From Lead Generation to Vetting - Grab it through Amazon!

[RelicDude]

Wow I've never seen anything like it sorry I can't help. But if you posted this in the glass forum I'm sure there somebody down there that could help out.

 

[surf]

Hello Bill,

I'm not getting a good sense of it from the two photos. What does the rounded bottom on the second photo look like? I think it might be a sand pontil gone wild…

Bell Jars​

PS: I've never seen, nor heard of a black glass bell jar, or cloche. I would think that the black glass would defeat the purpose of the bell jar...

 

[RelicDude]

I hope you don't mind but I shared your photos with a few collectors of early glass and this is what they had to say
.Knob on a Bell Jar is the only thing I can think of.Although a Bell jar in Black glass is an odd concept because Bell Jars were generally for displaying what was inside the jar & 99% of genuine old examples I seen in the past 30 years were clear...It could of been from a whimsical or "one off" special order piece,such as a glass pot or mortar with knob handles on either side....But if I had to bet, i'd say Bell jar because of the domed shell under the knob & thickness of glass up to the knob.

 

[foolishgold]

Yes i thought all cloches were clear. Maybe blue glass. That was the point. (terrarium/greenhouse) I vote something else.