Wine bottle

1700 - 1750

This bottle has a high conical kick. The glass seal impressed on the body, with the coat of arms of the Norbertine Abbey of Drongen and in a banderole the device 'VITA BREVIS', is a reference to the owner of the bottle. At the Van Thorenburg auction in 1948 this bottle, together with a second one bearing the same seal, was sold for what was then considered an astronomical price, namely, 2,600 fr. Bottles such as these were filled with wine, beer, oil, vinegar and other liquids. The Dutch name for them 'potfles' derives from what was at the time a popular measure of capacity in Bruges, the Brugse pot, i.e. 112.96 cl. See W. Van den Bossche, Antique Glass Bottles, Woodbridge 2001, ill. 121/3, 126/2.

• Places and dates

  Ghent, 1700 - 1750 (Production)

• Materials

  Glass

• Category

  Containers

• Object number

  S1653

• IPR status

  Public domain