What should I do with a broken bottle that is very special to me?

July 3, 2007 7:28 AM

What can i do with a broken bottle, besides slicing up my enemies? I have a rare bottle from my dearly missed grandad's long gone bottling company that I accidentally broke, and I do not want to throw this away.

I knocked it off a mantle while i was tossing a squeaky rabbit in the air for my dog, and the top part was shattered while leaving the bottom part, including the logo and "property of my grandad" written on the back. I'd like to keep it around, but make it safer while doing something creative with it.

here is a picture of the bottle

posted by yeahyeahyeahwhoo to Grab Bag (18 answers total)

With a high-speed grinder - maybe a Dremel with a good bit - you could round off the sharp edges, put a little sand in the bottom, and a dripless candle. I think the asymetrical top would cast some nice shadows.
posted by pupdog at 7:31 AM on July 3, 2007

Since you have the bulk of the bottle intact, perhaps you could consult a glassblower or similar artisan who could melt/coat/otherwise alter the edge of the glass so it's no longer sharp. You could then use it as a vase.
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:31 AM on July 3, 2007

I like Faint of Butt's suggestion. If done right it wouldn't even look like you had started with a broken bottle.
posted by cabingirl at 7:41 AM on July 3, 2007

Mazol Tov cube!
posted by ba at 7:42 AM on July 3, 2007

To amplify ba's comment: cast it in clear resin. If you're clever, you could leave the centre open for a vase.

Here's an example of someone doing a USB drive.
posted by bonehead at 7:46 AM on July 3, 2007

If you try pupdog's suggestion, you need to have some water involved so you don't overheat the glass or create glass dust (it doesn't come out of your lungs very well). You might take it to a lapidary or stained glass worker, they should be able to do this.

Faint of Butt's suggestion could result in something very nice, but might not work out well with the printing on the bottle. See if you can have the artist test this on another printed bottle first. If you go this route, find someone experienced with soft glass. The working properties of soft glass are very different than borosilicate glass, and it will be difficult for a boro worker to avoid turning this into a melted lump or more shattered pieces. Be aware that if there are small cracks in the bottle from the breakage, heating it for glassworking might cause it to crack.

You could put a bead of clear silicone sealer on the edge of the bottle, it would keep it from cutting anyone and be barely visible. If you want to get a bit more creative with it, it comes in many colors. If you are are unhappy with the results, it can be peeled off.

Polymer clay (Fimo and Sculpy are two brands) can be applied to the edge. You can create designs with the different colors, paint on it, or build it up into different shapes. It cures in the oven -- let the bottle cool slowly in the oven so you don't thermal shock it in the air.
posted by yohko at 7:58 AM on July 3, 2007

I don't know that this works in reverse, but it might give you ideas. I once saw a bottle filled with plaster then broken. The bottle was then re-assembled around the plaster. The result looked pretty good. (Obviously they didn't need it to function as a bottle anymore, just art.)
posted by TheDukeofLancaster at 7:58 AM on July 3, 2007

Take it to a glass company near you - they can grind down the sharp edges, and keep the logo and "property of." It would be a lovely vase or container for other sentimental items - rocks or shells, for example.
posted by nkknkk at 8:00 AM on July 3, 2007

If you're not feeling crafty yourself-- I remember seeing a state fair vendor that would melt wine bottles from special occasions into cutting boards and coasters... label and all. I wonder if any of these companies would work with a broken bottle? Google for "Melted Wine Bottle" and you may find some options that will suit you.
posted by Gable Oak at 8:04 AM on July 3, 2007

I wonder if a glass-maker could turn it into either a wine decanter or a water pitcher.
posted by chefscotticus at 8:10 AM on July 3, 2007

And put a search on ebay for another one, perhaps? This guy has one in his collection (not for sale but proof that there's at least one more out there). He's looking for folks who know something about the companies so I'm sure he'd be delighted to hear from you.
posted by jdfan at 8:25 AM on July 3, 2007

If that label on the bottle isn't glued on (i.e. it is actually part of the bottle and not a paper label) then a glassworks artist could melt it down into a coaster or cutting board. My parents do this with Grey Goose bottles, which tend not to have paper labels. They make neat cheese boards if melted flat, or if melted concave, a nifty place for nuts and other nibblies.
posted by sutel at 9:12 AM on July 3, 2007

Thanks yohko, I completely forgot to mention water. I've done this on some painted glass tiles a friend had that were broken along the edges, but we had access to a high-speed bench grinder. and were dealing with pretty straight edges. I figured a Dremel would work well on the angles and small space here. Heating it could definitely work, but I'd want a professional to work on it I think , to protect the labelling.
posted by pupdog at 9:14 AM on July 3, 2007

Embed it into some plaster or concrete and put it on display!
posted by agregoli at 9:28 AM on July 3, 2007

My mom has a piece of art that has a broken glass for the base and the missing part is made from stained glass. Its more of a martini glass shape, though - don't know if it would work (or look good) with your bottle
posted by jpdoane at 9:41 AM on July 3, 2007

Break it into smaller pieces, then embed in concrete in the form of a mosaic.
posted by pardonyou? at 10:41 AM on July 3, 2007

Have it embedded in a block of acrylic
posted by nanojath at 12:07 PM on July 3, 2007

arrange it as a still life and photograph it ?
posted by panini at 3:26 PM on July 3, 2007