Onion Bottle- Historic Jamestowne, VA
Institution: Jamestown Rediscovery- Historic Jamestowne
State: Virginia
Object: Bottle
Era: 17th Century
Archaeologists uncovered a wine cellar with one onion bottle intialed “FN”. Researches believe the bottle may have been a gift from or property of Francis Nicholson, Virgnia’s governor between 1698 to 1705. During his first year of office, Jamestown’s statehouse burned down and Nicholson decided to move the capital to Williamsburg, Virginia.
The term "onion bottle" is a moniker for the bottle's round, squatty shape resembling an onion. This style is one of many black glass bottles developed in 17th England that stored and transported wine to U.S. colonies. Seals were added to bottles to mark ownership or status of the supplier/host.
