Antique Dutch Gin Case Bottle with Embossed Stork Motif Culture / Period: Dutch Colonial Trade Period Date / Period: Late 18th – 19th century Material: Glass Dimensions: 220 mm Condition: Good condition, with surface wear, deposits and minor manufacturing irregularities consistent with age and use No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid. Provenance information: Object Registration ID: 25 The current owner purchased the Antique Dutch Gin Case Bottle from a private collector, N.N. in Veldhoven. The previous owner, a private collector, N.N. from Veldhoven (the Netherlands), stated that the object had been in his collection since an unknown date. According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1980s. The bottle is stated to have been found in Nigeria; this information is based on the account of a previous owner. No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object is available. Background Information: This square-section glass bottle, commonly referred to as a “case bottle,” is characteristic of Dutch gin (jenever) containers produced from the late 18th through the 19th century. The form, with its straight sides and slightly tapered shoulders, was specifically designed for efficient packing and transport, allowing bottles to be stacked closely together in wooden cases for shipment over long distances. The embossed decoration, including a stork motif and partial lettering, reflects the practice of marking bottles with identifiable symbols or brand names. Such motifs often served as early trademarks, linking the container to a specific distillery or merchant. The stork, in particular, is a known emblem used by several Dutch producers and is associated with regional identity and commercial branding within the Netherlands. During this period, Dutch gin was widely exported as part of extensive maritime trade networks. These bottles circulated throughout Europe and far beyond, reaching markets in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Such vessels were traded across large distances, reaching regions such as present-day West Africa, where imported spirits formed part of broader commercial exchanges involving textiles, raw materials, and other goods. The production of these bottles reflects an organised glassmaking tradition, typically involving mould-blown techniques that allowed for consistent shapes and the integration of embossed designs. Minor irregularities, bubbles, and variations in thickness visible in the glass are characteristic of this manufacturing process and provide insight into pre-industrial and early industrial glass production methods. Within daily life, gin bottles of this type were utilitarian objects, used for storage, transport, and consumption of distilled spirits. Their durability and practical design made them suitable for both domestic use and long-distance trade, contributing to their widespread distribution. This piece provides a direct and physical link to the commercial and social practices of the late 18th and 19th centuries, illustrating how everyday objects such as glass bottles played a practical role within global trade networks and in the daily consumption habits of the period.