Skip to content

Search

The creation of a cultural icon

The history about the Coca‑Cola Contour Bottle

Coca-Cola Trade Mark Registered bottle sketch

Inspiration Takes Shape

The glass Coca‑Cola bottle is one of the world's most recognizable silhouettes. A design classic, it has been celebrated in art, music, and advertising, inspiring artists like Andy Warhol and brands like Volkswagen. 

The Beginning of Bottled Coca‑Cola

In 1899, two lawyers secured the bottling rights for Coca‑Cola. The beverage was rapidly becoming a national phenomenon. By 1900, bottled Coca‑Cola was sold in every US state, prompting the need to protect the brand from imitators.

Black and white photo of a woman working in a Coca-Cola factory

Challenges for Early Coca‑Cola

To differentiate itself from imitations, in 1912, The Coca‑Cola Bottling Company proposed developing a distinctive Coca‑Cola bottle. They worked to create a glass Coca‑Cola bottle that could be recognized even in the dark. In 1915, the Root Glass Company designed the iconic contour bottle, inspired by a cocoa bean. 

wo glass Coca-Cola bottles. On the left is an empty glass Coca-Cola bottle, and on the right is a full, unopened glass Coca-Cola bottle.

Our roots

In 1915, seeking to distinguish itself from imitators, the Coca‑Cola Bottling Association commissioned a unique bottle design. The Root Glass Company won with the iconic contour bottle, patentable for its distinctive shape and tactile feel. By early 1916, mass production began in "Georgia Green" glass, solidifying Coca‑Cola's brand identity and setting a new standard for packaging design. 

Empty glass Coca-Cola bottle on a light background.

Cultural Impact 

The introduction of the Coca‑Cola bottle was an instant cultural phenomenon. In 1950, it graced the cover of Time magazine, becoming the first commercial product to achieve such recognition. This highlighted the bottle's significance not just as packaging, but as a symbol of pop culture and American identity. 

Over the decades, the Coca‑Cola bottle has been featured in countless cultural references. Artists like Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol incorporated it into their work. The bottle's ability to transcend its original function and become a cultural icon testifies to its timeless design and global influence. 

A group of people looking at a fixed point, holding a glass Coca-Cola bottle.

Evolution of the Glass Coca‑Cola Bottle

The history of the glass Coca‑Cola bottle is a testament to innovation and brand protection. More than a century later, the unique contour bottle remains synonymous with Coca‑Cola.

Retro-style image of a smiling woman, likely from the 1950s, wearing a white dress and a green-trimmed hat, holding a glass of Coca-Cola. A red Coca-Cola dispenser is visible in the background. The image evokes classic Coca-Cola advertising.