A bottle is a narrow-necked container made of an impermeable material in many shapes and sizes used to store or transport liquids. It can be closed with a cap, a closure or a cork. This is a general definition which covers all types of bottles; however, specific bottle types have additional defined characteristics. These definitions are provided on the specific bottle page for each type of bottle.
Definitions are generally easier to visualize with a drawing than with just a description; hence most of the terms on this morphology page have associated pictures and/or drawings to help in understanding their meaning. Most of the terms on this page are hyperlinked back to their individual pages for further details as appropriate. This is done to help avoid unnecessary repetition of the same definitions over and over again. Click any picture or the link to enlarge it.
This morphology page is an attempt to present a general overview of all the bottle parts and their physical characteristics in one location for easy reference and to provide the viewer with a more complete understanding of bottle terminology. Some of these terms are often misunderstood or confused with others, and this morphology page is designed to clear up any confusion or misunderstanding that might exist. Generally, this page will be used as a reference throughout this website to define the various bottle parts and their features.
Glass – The substance which is the main ingredient in bottle making; a mixture of about 6 percent lime, 4 percent magnesia, and in bottle glass, about 2 percent alumina (aluminum oxide). Other materials such as silica, soda ash, borax, and feldspar are also frequently present.
Mold – A wooden or cast iron (usually) form used in the process of hand blowing to shape a bottle and give it a symmetrical appearance; a type of block (Kendrick 1968).
Finish – The upper part of a neck; can be one-part, two-parts (the crown finish to the right is a two-part finish), or three-parts. A finished neck can have a lip or collar or both.
Tint – Glass which has been colored by the addition of metallic oxides which absorb certain wavelengths of light and let others pass through; thus giving it a coloration or tint. Cobalt and chromium are commonly used tinting agents for glass containers. Manganese is a common tinting agent for sulphite-free glass.
Bottle Episode – A television or film episode which is intended to create a particular sensation or mood; not necessarily a quality storyline. Examples of these episodes might include a scary monster or a suspenseful chase scene.
Diameter – The greatest circumference of the base of a bottle. To get this measurement, one can use a flexible tape measure or a flat ruler, and then multiply the result by pi (3.14). This is a quick and accurate method to determine the diameter of an antique bottle which may be difficult or impossible to do by sight alone.
