Condition: Very good pre-owned antique condition. One small chip on one of the ribbed sides resulting from a bubble near the surface of the glass breaking. Otherwise the bottle is in wonderful shape. A few inclusions can be seen on the neck original to production, along with seam in the glass. The rough appearance of the bottles lip is a result of the "burst off" removal method in hand blown glass making. Please see photos.
Details: Antique hexagonal cobalt glass poison bottle manufactured in Scotland in the mid to late 19th century. The bottle features two ribbed panels, and a central panel reading "Poisonous" and "Not To Be Taken". The bottle is produced in the Scottish long-neck style with a burst lip, and ring below. The burst off method involves a relatively large bubble being blown into the glass just above the mold top (i.e., above the upper end of the bottle neck beyond the mold edge) in order to thin the glass enough for the bubble to "burst" with either a subtle twist of the blowpipe, by pulling up on the bubble, or with a larger puff of air from the blower (gaffer). The blowpipe is then quickly separated when the bubble bursts.
Throughout the 19th century, new hazardous compounds including medications, household cleansers, and pest control entered the market. Poison bottles were frequently marked with certain raised forms or distinctive patterns to help prevent accidents. This was especially helpful if you were handling bottles by candlelight. Cobalt blue, inky black, and dark green were popular hues for antique poison bottles, and they frequently included raised text or inlays spelling out "POISON" or "DEATH" among designs of raised latticework, deep grooves, geometric forms, and, most frequently, the skull and crossbones.
