These comprise a large and important part of the Jamestown collection.
Literally thousands of glass fragments from these bottles have been
unearthed, and by diligent and patient work a few complete wine and gin
bottles have been pieced together.
The glass wine bottles were made in England. The oldest excavated, made
between 1640 and 1660, have spherical bodies and tall necks. Those made
between 1660 and 1680 have cup-shaped bodies with short necks. Of the
period between 1680 and 1700 the neck is very short and the body is wide
and squat. Insofar as is known, no glass wine bottles were used at
Jamestown before 1640.
[Illustration: GLASS WINE BOTTLES UNEARTHED AT JAMESTOWN RANGING IN DATE
FROM 1640 TO 1690. THOUSANDS OF FRAGMENTS OF THESE BOTTLES HAVE BEEN
RECOVERED.]
[Illustration: AN ASSORTMENT OF GLASS BOTTLE SEALS IN THE JAMESTOWN
COLLECTION. SOME OF THE WEALTHY PLANTERS HAD THEIR INITIALS (OR OTHER
ORNAMENTAL DEVICE) STAMPED ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE WINE BOTTLES WHICH
THEY ORDERED FROM ENGLAND.]
[Illustration: THIS DUTCH GIN BOTTLE EXCAVATED AT JAMESTOWN WAS IMPORTED
FROM HOLLAND.]
About 1650 the practice of affixing glass seals or buttons on the
shoulders of English wine bottles was begun. The seal was inscribed with
a name, or initials, or a date; sometimes a coat of arms or a crest, or
other device or ornament. Many of these glass bottle seals have been
found at Jamestown. As a rule, only the wealthy and influential planters
had seals stamped on their wine bottles.
Gin bottles found at Jamestown are tall and square with thin glass
sides. Imported from Holland, many were made as early as 1625. One gin
bottle was miraculously unearthed intact, and not as much as a chip or
crack was found on this 300-year-old fragile specimen.