Last Updated: Jul 19, 2016     Views: 161

According to our curator for American glass, Jane Spillman, numbers engraved on the inside of the neck were used to match decanters with their stoppers. The stoppers and bottle necks were ground to fit exactly and then both were marked with the same number. This was an English custom which was also used in the States. So the bottle/decanter with a number on the neck means it once had a stopper which is missing now.

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Please note: The Corning Museum of Glass is a non-profit, educational institute and, as such, cannot answer questions about rarity or value of your glass. For more information about appraisal services, see our curatorial FAQs.

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