Pressed Glass Decanter by Thatcher Glass Mfg. Co.

 Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.

Pressed Glass Decanter.

If you hunt bottles, you'll probably find a few decanters - not often but occasionally. The decanter shown above was found along the Indian River.  It is about 9.5 inches tall and in perfect shape.  The top is perfect.  It isn't chipped, the bottle was made with an irregular ruffled edge around the lip.  It looks fine sitting on a windowsill reflecting the morning sunlight.

There are no marks of identification on it except on the bottom, where there is a good amount of information.  You can see that below.

Bottom of the Same Decanter.

Most prominent is the FEDERAL LAW FORBIDS SALE OR REUSE OF THIS BOTTLE message encircling a variety of other marks that need deciphering.  

The Federal Law message dates the bottle to somewhere in the range of 1935 to 1964.  One of the other numbers on the bottom is "62" which could indicate a date of 1962.  I haven't yet done enough research to decipher all the marks, but I think I could find the information. I know there is probably a factory code (probably the D), a mold number and some other things.

Below is the maker's mark displayed in the center of the bottom.

MTC Maker's Mark on Bottom of Decanter.

A little research revealed that to be what is referred to as the MTC mark - one of the variations used by the Thatcher Glass Mfg. Co.  Thatcher was referred to the father of milk bottles.  He didn't invent the first, but was responsible for many of the early innovations and did a lot to make milk bottles "the" method of delivery.

Here is a link for a lot more information on the Thatcher company.

4-page_spread

The extent of the available research on the company is impressive.  It is the kind of research that is not produced by big names but to a large extent by devoted enthusiasts who are as systematic and detailed in their research as any top name scientist.

I think the linked site will help me decode some of the other numbers on the bottom of the decanter when I devote the time to it.  

Here is a link to an article that tells how to tell the difference between pressed glass and cut glass.

https://www.libraryofvintagethings.com/2025/11/11/pressed-glass-vs-cut-glass-how-to-tell-the-difference/

When you do find a decanter, you never find the stopper at the same time, but usually find enough lost stoppers to be able to find one that fits and looks good.