Naval Deck Sweeper and Naval Boarding Weapon

A good story can always sell an object.

Several bottles appeared on ebay this week described as 18th century “Naval Deck Sweepers” and “Naval Boarding Weapons.” What a lovely and charming story filled with illusions of military battles, gunsmoke, sea journeys and explosives. Most bottle collectors would instantly recognize the freeblown form as what we collectively and quaintly call “Persian Saddle Flasks” or “Mexican tourist trade glass.” No matter what euphemism by which you choose to call them, it is commonly accepted knowledge that such freeblown pieces with exaggerated crudeness in manufacture and intentional ‘coarse’ glass containing significant bubbles and impurities are the work of 20th century glass manufacturers. Such glass has been around for decades, and may have been blown in Mexico, South America, Europe or the mid-East.

While it is not uncommon to find such bottles at any bottle show in the range of $35, it is quite shocking to see that numerous bidders have signed on to the battle and run up the bidding in excess of $500.

P.T. Barnum would not be the least bit surprised.

Update:
Here is another page showing photographs of the Naval deck Sweeper bottles in question.