An antique Dutch J. VAN DER VALK case gin bottle with round company seal, ca. 1820. Very good antique condition, no major chips and no cracks. Measures approx. 12" high x 4" wide (at the widest). Case Gin Bottles were produced for over 250 years from the 17th century all the way to the 20th century. The body is square in cross-section and in all cases will taper from a wide shoulder to a narrower cross-section at the base. Case Gin Bottles were produced with “Black Glass”, really just a dark-green, because of the high tax rate on the import and export of clear glass. The design was quintessential in the import and export of large numbers of Bottles at once. Importers learned that the square shape prevented bottles from rolling at sea and breaking in cases. Very decorative piece, especially if backlit.