GLASS FACTORY INFORMATION ~ Manufacturers' Marks, Logos & Emblems Used by Glassmaking Companies in the USA ~ Trademarks Seen on Antique & Vintage Bottles, Fruit Jars, Glass Electrical Insulators and Tableware ~ Historical & Dating Information for Glass Collectors ~ Articles about Popular Genres of Glass Collecting.
Some Unknown / Unidentified Marks on Glass
A Selection of Unknown / Unidentified Marks seen on Glass (Primarily Bottles)
Most of these marks are shown elsewhere on this site, in the alphabetical mark listings, but I wanted to create a webpage here with some of the unknown (so far) marks gathered in one place. Most of the marks shown below have been seen on antique bottles or other types of older glass, although a few are of much more recent vintage.
If you have information that could help with identification on any of these marks seen on glass, please write and let us know! My email is listed on the “Contact Information“ page.
THANK YOU SO MUCH to all who have submitted photos of bottle bases over the years!
“IF inside a hexagon” glassmaker mark on heel of colorless Corona Extra bottle – with possible 2004 date code. Unidentified logo, possibly that of a bottle maker in Mexico or another country in Central or South America? Info needed! (Photo courtesy of Mikhael Phelps).“S in a hexagon” mark on base shard from colorless Fishman or Fishmann bottle – so far unidentified. Perhaps circa 1915-1935? This shard was found during an archeological project in 2013 in San Diego, CA. (Photo courtesy of Carol Serr).Unidentified trademark on heel of light aqua Japanese beverage bottle – bottle itself made by Nippon Taisanbin Co. Ltd.“M G C Y” or “M C G Y” (with smaller, faint IA between G and C) on base of antique black glass bottle, probably made before 1900. Unknown British maker. (Photo courtesy of Natasha Moletta).“C S & L” or “S & L C” mark on base of black glass bottle. This is a partial base shard of “beach glass”. (Photo courtesy of Peg M.).“J. J. G.” on base of square “Baltimore” or “Tennessee Style” aqua pickle bottle (Gothic cathedral type without ornamentation) circa 1880s. Unknown glassmaker or distributor.Unidentified recent logo (if you know what company used this mark, let us know!). Square – diamond mark with waves design on base of clear glass bottle.“P.G.& Co.” on base shard of aqua bottle or jar (so far – unidentified). This probably dates from the 1880s-1890s period.“C & O” on base of aqua pepper sauce bottle, probably circa 1870s. (Photo courtesy of J. Thomas).“BOAN” mark on cobalt blue jar. I thought this mark was “DOAN” for many years but recently an anonymous contributor revealed the mark is actually “BOAN”. The name is embossed on the base of a cobalt blue “Roman Gladiator” repro vase or urn – supposedly a reproduction of an early Roman-era sports presentation or commemorative jar or pot. A few other art glass vases and bottles made in Italy as well as some ceramic items have been reported with the mark. In some cases the name appears on a removable label/sticker (not in the glass itself). However I haven’t found any RELIABLE, concrete background info on BOAN – on the company or concern involved. If you have good information, please advise! They appear to have been made sometime in the 1980s-90s.Unidentified B O C mark on base of amber handmade blob-top beer bottle, circa 1885. (I respectfully disagree with other researchers who believe this is a moldmaker error for “D O C” (Dominic O. Cunningham). I suspect it stands for a short-lived, obscure bottle maker. But maybe I’m wrong!C B M mark on base of antique light green glass pickle or “Chow Chow” bottle made in Great Britain, circa 1870s-1880s. Other known variants include “C B K” and “C B B” – arranged in a triangular configuration. There has been no absolute, definitive proof found (so far) on what these initials actually mean.LIG or LIC inside diamond mark- seen on base of clear square bitters or whiskey sampler bottle – circa 1890-1910. (Photo courtesy of Jack Klotz). *UPDATE* (9/16/2024): This mark has been solved! Archeologist Carol Serr noticed this is actually a mold number “317” inside a diamond (made by Illinois Glass Company, Alton, IL) and we are looking at it upside down! Illinois Glass produced many styles of bottles with the mold number inside a diamond, and many of those numbers are listed in their early catalogs, for instance their catalog issued in 1906).“McCRACKEN” on heavy frosted glass vase – unknown origin or age, possibly 1880s-1910s. This might have been intended as a funerary/cemetery type vase.
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S P A CO. on base of antique ale bottle. (Photo courtesy of Robert Moore).Bottle inside oval mark (on bottle base). This unidentified glass company was probably in Great Britain. (Photo courtesy of Suzanne Davis).Unidentified mark on handblown aqua bottle with heavy bubbling. Possibly a product of Mexico? Spain? Italy? (Photo courtesy of Mary Ostrander).McC & S mark on base of umbrella ink bottle, circa 1850s or 1860s. (Photo courtesy of Jack Klotz).“MR connected” mark on base of olive green oil lamp of uncertain age and origin, possibly European. (Photo courtesy of Kath).O inside a triangle, unknown meaning, embossed on the base of a soda bottle from Providence, Rhode Island, dating circa 1895-1901. (Photo courtesy of Taylor McBurney).“M A Co” within diamond monogram (on base of clear glass shaving mug). This is of uncertain date, but possibly from the 1900-1930 era.Unidentified “Cross” mark on base of modern cobalt blue lamp, possibly made in India or China. Someone sent me this photo several years ago. (I’m sorry I lost track of their name).BBBB logo (four Bs, each letter B positioned around a cross or “Plus” sign) on base of mouthblown / handmade light green-aqua ink bottle, circa 1880-1910 and possibly from Great Britain. (Photo courtesy of Paul McClure).“K-R” embossed backwards (twice) on the base of an aqua handblown Strap-side type liquor flask, unknown maker, possibly from the Louisville KY area; circa 1860s-1880s. The lettering was rather crudely engraved into the mold. The bottle was dug in the Louisville area.“C. C” on base of green glass cylindrical pickle or “Chow Chow” jar/bottle, circa 1870s-1900 and almost certainly from Great Britain. The mark is unidentified, but probably that of either a food packing firm / distributor OR a glass company. The bottle is similar in shape to the types marked C B M (shown above on this page).Unidentified logo on bottle base -perhaps meant to be a stylized Colima dog or other animal? I have asked a number of people what they seem to see, and some of the answers included “deer”, “dog”, “fox”, “frog” “pig” “wolf” and “screaming beast”.!! This appears on a bottle shard – possibly 1950s-1970s era? – probably from a beverage bottle – recovered in an archeological project in Chile. If you recognize what company or glassmaker this trademark stands for, please let us know! (Photo courtesy of Gonzalo Antonio Silva).“P G” mark on base of modern amber glass 16-ounce “Boston Round” type chemical bottle. The “P G” almost certainly stands for a glassmaker or bottle distributor. The bottle likely dates after around 1990. Do you know what this mark stands for?Unknown glassmaker mark – is this supposed to represent a spoon or spatula and fork perhaps?? – seen on bottom of clear glass jar probably of quite recent date. Info requested!Unidentified glassmaker mark seen on clear glass vase or bottle. Stylized gazelle? Two triangles? W mark? Weird eyeglasses? Info needed! (Photo courtesy of Mary Bonevelle).“VU” connected – on base of dark olive green ale or whiskey bottle found in Sweden (see bottle pic below) – possibly early 20th century, likely from England or Western Europe. (Photo courtesy of Göran Tidstam).“VU” connected (see mark above) – appears on the base of dark olive green ale or whiskey bottle found in Sweden – possibly from England or Western Europe. If you know what this mark stands for, please let us know! (Photo courtesy of Göran Tidstam).“T K” on base of amber “drip drop” anesthesia (ether, chloroform) bottle. Uncertain age but possibly early/mid 20th century and from Germany. The “60” probably indicates capacity in milliliters. If you have concrete information on the meaning of these initials, please let us know! (Photo courtesy of June Bergeron).
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2 thoughts on “Some Unknown / Unidentified Marks on Glass”
I’m looking to find out this mark. K and it’s inside a hexagon and below says USA. Does anyone know this mark?
Hi Lisa,
That mark was used by Kimble Glass Company. If you can, please see my list of marks on this page, and check out the “K in a hexagon” entry there: Glass Bottle Marks – Page Three . I hope this helps!
David
I’m looking to find out this mark. K and it’s inside a hexagon and below says USA. Does anyone know this mark?
Hi Lisa,
That mark was used by Kimble Glass Company. If you can, please see my list of marks on this page, and check out the “K in a hexagon” entry there: Glass Bottle Marks – Page Three . I hope this helps!
David