How to Date the Age of Glass Bottles

Identifing the age of a glass bottle can be quite challenging at times. In today's market, bottle collecting is being invaded with decorative and artsy bottles that can easily fool you as being of antique value. One way to classify a bottle's age is using the mold seam that runs from the base of the bottle and stopping somewhere along the body of the bottle.

Grab a bottle from your collection and identify the age of your bottle with the following seam locations:

1800-1875   The mold seam stops at or before the shoulder.

1875-1885   The mold seam stops between the shoulder and the top of the neck.

1885-1895   The mold seam stops right before the top of the neck.

1895-1910   The mold seam stops at the top of the neck.

1910-now     The mold seam stops at the top of the bottle.