Bottles
Antique Trader's compendium of articles about collectible bottles, including vintage milk bottles, antique perfume bottles, old beer bottles, bottle trademark identification, and more.
See also: American Glass | Ceramics | European Glass | Pottery | Stoneware
How to Identify Old Bottles
You found an old bottle with no label or no embossing? No problem. Understanding how to identify bottles through trademark identification is the answer to your question.
National Bottle Convention Back After Two-Year Hiatus
Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors' gathering July 28-31 includes educational seminars, a shootout competition, silent auction and youth events.
Bitters Bottle Could Bring $30,000 at Glass Works' Auction
The Old Sachem Bitters and Wigwam Tonic bottle is the star lot in a two-day sale April 25-26 packed with flasks, inks, target balls, fire grenades, and black glass.
Vintage Fire Grenades History and Value
What are fire grenades? From the 1870s through the early 1900s, liquid-filled bottles were used to fight small house fires. Today they are rare and collectible.
Hundreds of Old Beer Bottles Found
Archaeologists in England discover more than 600 beer bottles at the site of an old Victorian brewery that contain dangerous concentrations of lead.
Rare bottle blows past estimate
A 150-year-old blue Cassin’s Grape Brandy Bitters bottle, so rare that for years many doubted its existence, has sold for a staggering $155,000.
Patriotic milk bottles - They did America proud
When America entered World War II, the ad industry took immediate action by forming the War Advertising Council that focused on public service campaigns, including the patriotic slogans that would be included on glass milk bottles.
Arts from Jerusalem span time and space
The holy city of Jerusalem has inspired artists and craftsmen for thousands of years. Their creations often span time and space, like the city itself.
Prototype Coke bottle caps off $110,700
An effervescent six-figure winning bid drove an extremely rare Coca-Cola prototype bottle to the top of prices realized at Morphy’s April 12-14 auction in Las Vegas.
Collect and use vintage barware
TV shows like ‘Mad Men,’ and ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ have made collecting vintage barware popular for young and old alike.
Antique Bottles: Death of the Snake Oil salesman
Leading up to, and at the turn of the 20th century, there were no federal regulations preventing the mixing of dangerous drugs & selling it as medicine. Medicines with unfounded claims were known as "snake oil." The year 1906 saw an end to that.
Collectors of milk bottles gathering May 10-11
The public is invited to The National Association of Milk Bottle Collectors' (NAMBC) annual Convention in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, May 10-11.
Perfume Bottle Association planning gala in Chicago
Hundreds of perfume bottle and vintage vanity collectors will gather May 2 in Itasca, Illinois, to celebrate and appreciate perfume bottles.
Guide to Identifying Whiskey Flasks
Whiskey flasks have a wide variety of shapes, styles, sizes, and colors. This breakdown will help you determine which type of whiskey flask you have.