Cobalt & Blue Antique Glass Bottles from NYC

Cobalt blue was a common color for poison bottles in the 1800s and early 1900s, and it also turned up on everyday remedies such as Phillips Milk of Magnesia and Bromo-Seltzer. The bottles in this collection are vintage glass recovered from NYC shorelines, and each one is hand-selected for color depth and character.

You’ll find Phillips Milk of Magnesia bottles in several sizes, Squibb medicine bottles, Bromo-Seltzer bottles from Emerson Drug Co., and unmarked cobalt medicine bottles from the early 20th century and the 1950s, with a few aqua and blue pieces alongside. Each listing gives the size, markings and condition. Many work as a bud vase or a windowsill piece. Vintage bottles are for display only.

FAQs

What was cobalt glass originally used for?

Primarily poisons, medicines, and bitters in the 1800s and early 1900s, when color-coding bottles was one of the only safeguards against accidental poisoning.

Why is cobalt glass valuable in antique bottle collecting?

Cobalt was reserved for poisons, potent medicines, and anything meant to be visually distinct from safer household contents. That intentional scarcity, combined with its jewel-toned intensity, makes it the most sought-after color among collectors today.