original and intact c. 1850's-1870's vibrant cobalt blue mineral water bottle manufactured for john ryan in savannah, georgia. the low tapering shoulders and long narrow neck are finished with an intact applied blob top that features some whittling. the neck exhibits a number of crudities including whittling, straw marks, and a large bubble. the front body is deeply embossed with multiple lines of block lettering that read "john ryan / excelsor / mineral water / savannah, ga", with the last line in smaller text and with a raised end-letter 'a' in "georgia". the base features a moderate kickup with residue from manufacture with iron pontil. the bottle is largely intact though it retains a large flat chip on the lower body, running from the heel, through the lower two lines of embossed text. crudities are typical of its age and date of manufacture. john ryan started the excelsior bottle works in savannah, georgia in 1852, becoming the first soda bottler in the state. they manufactured soda water and carbonated beverages. the business eventually expanded and opened branches in augusta, columbus, and atlanta. the company used very colorful cobalt blue bottles. john ryan would retire in 1879 and would pass away in 1885.