Bottle

ClassificationsFurnishings-Serviceware-vessels-bottles

Dateearly to mid 20th Century

Made AtJapan, Asia

Used AtPalau

MediumGlass

Dimensions11 3/4 × 3 1/8 in. (29.8 × 7.9 cm)

Credit LineGift of Frieda O. Wray from the Estate of Dr. & Mrs. Douglas and Carolyn Osborne

Object number2019.17.2

DescriptionThis is a Japanese manufactured deep blue glass bottle collected from the island country of Palau and dates back to the 20th century. From 1914 to 1945 the island of Palau was under Imperial Japanese control. Besides a military presence, the Japanese influenced much of the Palau’s industrial expansion. For example, public infrastructure projects and commercial enterprising allowed for the manufacture, sale and distribution of glass beverage bottles on the island. Another aspect of Palauan life altered under Japan’s occupancy was the ban of the traditional burial practice of burying individuals in stone platforms. In a short time, the people of Palau implemented a new practice to mark their burials and utilized the most abundant material available to them: bottles. Old Japanese blue and green glass beverage bottles were buried upside-down in double rows to mark and beautify the perimeter of graves and to offer another function to spent glass bottles.

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