Specifically, Florida officials have revealed the recovery and preservation of two historic bottles from a 1715 shipwreck, now exhibited across several state museums, as reported by the New York Post.
The Florida Division of Historical Resources announced on October 8 the discovery of two unique "onion bottles" that were recovered from a shipwreck off the coast of Indian River County.
Notably, these bottles were retrieved from the watery depths in 2021 and 2022, shedding light on a maritime tragedy that occurred over three centuries ago.
This wreckage is part of the ill-fated Spanish Plate Fleet, which was journeying from Cuba to Spain in 1715. Unfortunately, the fleet encountered a devastating hurricane that led to its sinking along Florida's Treasure Coast.
Consequently, the recent recovery efforts have brought up more than just relics; they've revived a significant historical episode connected to the global trade routes of the 18th century.
Furthermore, the recovered onion glasses were skillfully restored to prevent further deterioration. Conservationists employed a meticulous process involving slow cleaning, drying, and stabilization with Paraloid B-72, an acrylic resin. Ultimately, this careful restoration aimed to preserve their integrity and historical value.
Historical Insights Into 18Th-Century Craftsmanship
Each of the onion bottles is free-blown, showcasing the unique craftsmanship of 18th-century England. Moreover, these vessels are referred to as "onion bottles" due to their bulbous shape, which helped stabilize the bottles aboard ships.
Crafted by hand using a pontile, each bottle possesses distinct variations in size, shape, and weight, highlighting the artisans’ skill during that era.
Furthermore, the origin of the bottles is intriguing, as they were designed to hold alcoholic spirits, although they were found empty.
Historical records suggest that such bottles were used extensively across maritime endeavors, owing to their robust structure, which was ideal for long voyages.
"Peeling back the layers to these onions was surely a challenge! With meticulously slow cleaning and drying, the bottles remained intact and were then consolidated with Paraloid B-72," a conservationist noted, reflecting on the restoration process that allowed these artifacts to withstand the test of time.
Revealing Connections To Global Trade Networks
Goods like these bottles help us understand the vast networks of trade that operated across the Atlantic. In fact, historian Ard stated at a recent presentation, "The flow of goods and raw materials from Central and Southern America, and to a lesser extent Asia, was vital to the economies of not just the Kingdom of Spain but many other nations in Europe."
Additionally, these archaeological finds highlight the culinary and social habits that have evolved through global interactions. For example, the Spanish practiced mixing sugar with cacao to create drinking chocolate, which was also transported on these fleets, using exotic porcelain vessels from China that indicate cross-cultural exchanges.
Ultimately, the artifacts recovered from the shipwreck thus provide a glimpse into the economic and social dynamics of the time, underscoring the global implications of these maritime routes.
Artifacts On Display In Florida Museums
Now preserved and stabilized, the onion bottles are part of Florida's Artifact Loan Program, which makes these historical treasures accessible to the public. As a result, visitors can currently see them at History Miami, the Pensacola Museum of History, and the McLarty Treasure Museum in Sebastian, Indian River County.
"A museum curator remarked during the unveiling of the display, 'In Florida, examples of onion bottles on loan from the Division are on exhibit, bringing pieces of our submerged history to the surface for all to appreciate.'"
Furthermore, the display of these bottles highlights the importance of historical preservation and educates the public about the state’s rich maritime heritage, significantly contributing to our understanding of the past and its connection to the present.
