Cool Bottle Embossings
13 June 2012
The recent post for RADAM’S MICROBE KILLER (read: From Texas – Wm. Radam’s Microbe Killer) with the uniquely embossed patient beating off death and a skeleton, I started to think about other bottles and jars that had cool embossing. In this gathering exercise, I excluded all of the great Historical Portrait and Eagle Flasks and glass with embossing such as monuments, trains, trees or non-living objects like a mug of beer. I just wanted to look around for full figure humans or animals.
This is a living and breathing post, meaning I would like to collect and add other examples if the subject image fits the criteria noted above. An obvious missing example would be an Indian. Thanks!
The popular and strongly embossed walking bear on the western OLD PIONEER WHISKEY – photo Jeff Wichmann
‘The Dancing Indian” Cologne – The whitest of white opaque glass, attributed to Stanger glass works; circa 1848-1853. – Gary Katzen Collection
TRAVELLERS BITTERS (note spelling of Travellers) with prominently embossed man with walking stick. Man is most likely General Robert E. Lee – photo Ferdinand Meyer V
The gorgeous PACIFIC CONGRESS WATER with embossed running deer – photo Jeff Wichmann
The walking Dingo on a SYDNEY TRADE MARK DINGO FRUIT JAR – ABCR Auctions
Lions head embossing on a LYON & SONS BREWING beer bottle from Newark, N.J.. – photo Jim Eifler
Jockey on racing horse – LONDON CLUB HOUSE GIN. My wife Elizabeth, has a recently dug horse and rider shard. She wants to make a piece of jewelry. – photo Ferdinand Meyer V
Hermes, the herald of the Olympian gods is embossed on the QUANT BREWING bottle. This embossing and color is fantastic. – photo Rick DeMarsh
The classic embossed alligator on a THE RIVER SWAMP CHILL AND FEVER CURE bottle from Augusta, Georgia
On of my favorites is the SCOTT’S EMULSION of PURE COD LIVER OIL with embossed fisherman and fish. Hate to walk a mile with that guy on my back!
Three embossed cocks on a DR. MICHAEL COX’S BITTERS. Notice how the rooster on the right is facing the other two cocks. Notice the word relationship between Cox and Cocks. – photo Ferdinand Meyer V
One of my favorites, embossed general on an OLD CONTINENTAL WHISKEY. New Meyer acquisition – photo Ed Gray
The elaborately embossed stags head on a FLACCUS BROS Fruit Jar. This has to be the most ornate fruit jar out there.
Embossed patient beating off death and a skeleton on a RADAM’S MICROBE KILLER. This is the piece that prompted this post.
Exceptionally embossed servant with bottle of PHILADELPHIA HOP BITTERS. I love the bow tie. – photo Travis Dunn
Embossed running horse on a HORSE SHOE BITTERS. I tried many years to get this bottle and was successful in the Grapentine Auctuin. – photo Ferdinand Meyer V
Patent medicine with embossing of a huge bird/man/dragon embossed on the front which is known to people in the area as the Piasa Bird. The Piasa Bird was painted by Indians on the bluffs above the Mississippi River near Jerseyville. JERSEYVILLE, ILLS embossed on one side and P.W.B.L. Co. This stood for Pitts Wonderful Black Liniment.
Here is a unusual rare colored western medicine bottle. Circa 1880’s, Honey Amber, 4 1/2″ tall, 2 ” x 1 3/8″ in diameter at the base. flared tooled top, base embossed with: “W.T.& Co.”. All embossing is on the front panel: DAMASCUS. TRADE MARK STODDART BROS. COR. GEARY & MASON STS. SAN FRANCISCO. Motif embossed with an Arabian Prince, Camel and a landscaped palace. – left photo Randy Taylor (notice Benicia iridescence)
Pegasus, the winged devine horse is proudly embossed on a HARTMANN & FEHRENBACH BREWING CO. WILMINGTON, DELAWARE beer bottle submitted by Rick DeMarsh. Matt Greig comments that there are over 40 different Hartmann & Fehrenbach bottles from Wilmington.
SINGLE STROKE ANTISEPTIC THE GREATEST GERM DESTROYER OF ALL MANUFACTURED BY THE WALKER CHEMICAL COMPANY DALLAS TEXAS. Both one of a kind. The company was only in business for one year. The bottles are from two different molds. The graphic is of the myth of St. George who cured a village of illness by slaying a dragon – Brad Seigler
About Ferdinand Meyer V
Ferdinand Meyer V is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and has a BFA in Fine Art and Graphic Design from the Kansas City Art Institute and School of Design. Ferdinand is the founding Principal of FMG Design, a nationally recognized design consultation firm. Ferdinand is a passionate collector of American historical glass specializing in bitters bottles, color runs and related classic figural bottles. He is married to Elizabeth Jane Meyer and lives in Houston, Texas with their daughter and three wonderful grandchildren. The Meyers are also very involved in Quarter Horses, antiques and early United States postage stamps. Ferdinand is the past 6-year President of the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors and is one of the founding members of the FOHBC Virtual Museum.
What a cool Gallery. Bravo! I have seen a very funny indian embossed on a Spring Water bottle. I will find it and post. Thanks again for a great display. c.a.