Pineapple Bitters Color Run – Meyer Collection

Pineapple Bitters – The Different Variants

04 April 2012 (Amended: 08 April 2012 with two W & Co NY pineapple pictures from Bruce Silva) (Amended: 08 April 2012 with two J. C & Co pineapple pictures) (R•052814-BBS example) (R•031416-Fuss Example Update) (R•110916)

The Pineapple form remains one of the favorite figural shapes in a field dominated by queens, corns, pigs, fish and cabins. You will always get plenty of satisfaction and compliments when you find a good pineapple because they are highly detailed, faceted and catch the light and reflections in the way you would expect a diamond or exotic gem.

Unfortunately, not much is known about these bottles with the exception of what is printed in Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham Bitters Bottles. On line research reveals very few quality images and little to no information on the makers, labels or variants.

It must also be noted that these are ‘labeled Bitters’ without the word ‘Bitters’ embossed on the bottle. This causes some collectors to bypass this bottle which is fine with me. I consider it a Bitters, a figural Bitters and a drop dead, gorgeous form.

Label: The Best Tonic, Brown’s Iron Bitters

To assist in information gathering I have posted the Ring & Ham information along with some of my collection pictures. There are also two (2) pontil images I found online and a photograph of the spectacular handled Pineapples owned by Jim and Lynn Mitchell in Tampa (read further: Handled Pineapples Enjoyed in Sunny Florida)

P 100  PINEAPPLE BITTERS, Circa 1845 – 1855

FIGURAL PINEAPPLE
L…The Best Tonic, Brown’s Iron Bitters
8 7/8 x 4
Round pineapple, Amber, Topaz, Aqua, Blue green, Yellow olive, Olive green and Green, DCM, Applied mouth, Diamond-shaped label panel interrupts diamond diaper.
Two other known molds for pineapple bottles had a smaller label panel bounded by
two instead of the three-diamond design. One, with metallic pontil, was inscribed
W & Co NY and the other JC & CO, has a rough pontil. One specimen said to have a frosted label area.

Note: Also known is a paneled bottle embossed I. & L. M. Helman. There is some question as to the age of the label which does not match the shape nor size of the label panel.

P 101  PINEAPPLE BITTERS

FIGURAL PINEAPPLE
// b // PATD OCTOBER 1ST 1870 BY A. L. LACRAIX
8 7/8 x 4
Round pineapple, Aqua, DC, Applied mouth, Very rare.

UNEMBOSSED Pineapple

Unembossed Pineapple in a tobacco yellow – Meyer Collection

Unembossed Pineapple in an old amber – Meyer Collection

W & Co NY Embossed Pineapple

W & Co NY Pineapple Bitters in a beautiful medium green – Bitters Bottles Supplement

W & Co NY Pineapple Bitters in a deep golden amber – Meyer Collection

W & Co NY Pineapple Bitters in a brilliant olive green – Meyer Collection

W & Co NY Pineapple Bitters in a deep blueish green – Meyer Collection

Detail of W&Co NY Pineapple Bitters in a deep blueish green – Meyer Collection

Believed to be unique, topaz W & Co NY Pineapple Bitters – Fuss Collection

Incredible blue/green W. & Co. N.Y. figural pineapple – photo Mark Warne

Dark Amber Pineapple Bitters Bottle with embossed letters on a diamond panel “W & CO., N.Y.”. Applied blob top and open pontil

Pontil scarred base of a Pineapple Bitters – Sha.0rg

W & Co NY Pineapple Bitters in yellow – Silva Collection

Pontil scar on a W & Co NY Pineapple Bitters in yellow – Silva Collection

Pineapple “W & CO / N.Y.” Pineapple Biters, (Ring/Ham P-100), American, ca. 1860 – 1870, medium grass green pineapple, 8 5/8”h, pontil scarred base, applied double collar mouth. Perfect condition. Very rare and unusual shade of pure green color. Ex. Elmer Smith Collection. Purchased in 2001 from Glass Works Auctions, #60. – Glass Works Auctions – Bob Ferraro Collection – Part 2

J.C & Co Embossed Pineapple

Amber J. C & Co Pineapple – photo Anonymous

Pontil on an amber J. C & Co Pineapple – photo Anonymous

A. L. LACRAIX Embossed Pineapple

A. L. LACRAIX Pineapple Bitters in aqua – Meyer Collection

HANDLED Pineapple

3 extremely rare and probably unique handled Pineapples – Mitchell Collection