Morning, Charles:

Marks on the Selters mineral water bottles can be a useful dating tool as 
they often changed based on political considerations. For example, the mark 
we most commonly see in the west was first used about 1867, as the direct 
result of Prussia winning the Austro-Prussian war late in 1866. It's a 
torus (doughnut) opposite the handle with a displayed eagle, symbol of 
Prussia, in the "hole" and the words NASSAU SELTERS in the "ring" of the 
doughnut, and NUM followed by a number (the potter's guild membership 
number) over a letter (for the town of manufacture) below the handle.

Would you be willing to describe the marks you have, or even send a picture 
of two?

Robert C. Leavitt
Reno

Could you describe t

At 5/4/2006 05:00 PM, you wrote:
>James,
>Not sure if this answers your questions, but here goes.  Archaeologists 
>with the State of Delaware are currently examining a shipwreck site on the 
>Delaware coast near Lewes.   Based on the artifact assemblage, the vessel 
>dates to the third quarter of the 18th century, probably the early 
>1770s.  One of the largest ceramics groups is salt glazed stoneware, 
>particularly stoneware mineral water bottles.
>
>The bottles are cylindrical and straight sided.  The handle is a simple 
>extruded loop/ring type. Iron oxide slip is present on the exterior, but 
>is uneven in the application. On many, the salt glaze is almost 
>clear.  The tooling on the interior varies, but is frequently deeply 
>incised vertical lines.  Generally, the bottles are well made, but some 
>exhibit some haste in production.
>
>Maker's marks are present, and is mainly the mark of the SELTERS 
>company.  They are still in existence.  There are also stamped or incised 
>potter's marks on the exterior.
>
>This mineral water bottle assemblage is one of the largest I have seen 
>here in the US.  It has also helped us identify this stoneware form in 
>other 18th assemblages from Delaware sites.
>
>Charles Fithian
>Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
>  -------------- Original message ----------------------
>From: JAMES MURPHY <[log in to unmask]>
> > Without markings, can the brown pottery Dutch gin bottles be 
> distinguished from
> > the German "Nassau" seltser bottles?
> >
> > How early might these show up in U.S. contexts?  I've read that those 
> with a
> > ring handle are earlier than those without the handle.
> >
> > James L. Murphy