Perhaps the A R B initials represent A. R. Baldwin & Co. Based on the above ad, Sacramento Daily Union April 26th 1866, they had a whisky on market. Most of the bottles that were dug next to this base were mid 60s, so the timeframe fits perfectly, but it's still just a theory and likely the closest we'll come to knowing the truth.
Here are two more interesting pieces. Both were dug in a mid to late 1860s layer in California and exhibit characteristics of early western glass. I have seen intact examples of both, so there may be a few of these floating around, but as far as the possible companies or people these symbols represent, I'm at a loss.
Are the letters on the top example A R F? If so, it could be Amandus, Rudolf, Fenkhausen. A & R were brothers who had a wholesale wine and liquor business in San Francisco beginning in 1861.
ReplyDeleteThe letters on the base were unclear as to exact interpretation. Understanding that what I considered might be an "F" was in fact a "B" you determined the correct answer to your original dilemma.
ReplyDeleteDefinetely could be Western, as I dug in intact example of the A.R.B. Fleur d Lis at a site in Ca that was only in existence from 1862-70. Mine is the same color as the shard in this post
ReplyDeleteAP