Wine Bottle Seal

Discovered during archeological investigations at George Washington Birthplace National Monument, this wine bottle seal bears the initials "AW" for Augustine Washington,George Washington's father. Wine bottle seals were made when an extra dollop of molten glass was laid on the body of a still-warm bottle and then stamped with the initials or logo of the bottle's owner.

Augustine Washington would have ordered bottles with his seal affixed from England. The seals demonstrate that the Washington family was established in the area by the time Augustine moved his growing family back to the Popes Creek plantation about 1718, and they could afford the extra costs of the personalized seals bearing Augustine's initials. Five partial and three complete "AW" wine bottle seals have been found at the birthplace to date.