Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
BOTTLE
Unique ID: MAS-O100053
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
One gin bottle measuring 11 inches high by 3 1/2 inches wide. This square, mould-blown 'case bottle', has the typical tapering profile. The square shape enabled the bottles to be packed more efficiently in a case than round bottles, and the tapering profile stops them from sticking when removed from the case. They were used for gin (although undoubtedly also sometimes for other spirits or wine). Square case bottles were made in Europe from the middle of the 17th century, but the tapering form seems to have become more common in the 19th century. From the 1880s the bottles were machine made, and the rims properly finished - this examples therefore probably date to the 19th century, but pre-dating the 1880s.
Notes:
This item was found along with three candlesticks (MAS-D100039 and MAS-D100041). All of these items were recovered from the wreck of Josephine Willis, a New Zealand sail and steam propelled packet ship built in c.1840. The ship was carrying 110 people on board bound for Auckland, comprising ten First class passengers, 60 steerage and 40 crew. It sank in 1856 following a collision with Mangerton with the loss of 69 lives. NRHE and Kent HER reference numbers cited in this record refer to the wreck of Josephine Willis.
Class:
Container
Sub class: DRINK SERVING CONTAINER
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: With finder
Subsequent action after recording: Submitted as wreck to the Receiver of Wreck
Wreck details
Droit number: 092/17
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: NINETEENTH CENTURY
Period to: NINETEENTH CENTURY
Date from: Circa AD 1800
Date to: Exactly AD 1856
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 28th May 2017
Personal details
Found by: This information is restricted for your login.
Recorded by: A BB
Identified by: L M
Secondary identifier: V L
Other reference numbers
NRHE monument number: 1025695
Other reference: Kent HER Number: TR 22 NE 45
Droit ID: 092/17
Materials and construction
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TR1830
Four figure Latitude: 51.0280097
Four figure longitude: 1.10748152
1:25K map: TR1830
1:10K map: TR13SE
Display four figure position on What3Words
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: MAS-D100038
Object type: BOTTLE
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
Four glass bottles that are all square, mould-blown 'case bottles', with a typical tapering profile. The square shape enabled them to be packe…
Workflow: Published
Find number: MAS-O100041
Object type: CANDLESTICK
Broadperiod: NINETEENTH CENTURY
One green glass candlestick measuring 5.5 inches high and 3.5 inches wide. This candlestick is thought to date to the 19th century.
Workflow: Published
Find number: MAS-D100063
Object type: BOTTLE
Broadperiod: NINETEENTH CENTURY
Five olive green case gin bottles with a square tapered body and four dots on base.
Some of the earliest spirit bottles were square in cross …
Workflow: Published
Timeline of associated dates
About us
About our site
Data labs
Find us
Wessex Archaeology
Portway House, Old Sarum Park
Salisbury SP4 6EB
T: +44(0) 1722 326867
E: