UNEMBOSSED BLUE FIGURAL BARREL
06 July 2012 (R•092016)
Here is a great figural barrel that many collectors consider very desirable because of the form, size and color. The barrel is larger than most bitters barrels and really jumps out in a crowd whether an example shows up at a bottle show or positioned within a collection. Why do I call this bottle mysterious? Like many bottles, far too many, I can not tell you who made the bottle, what it contained or where it was made. Most collectors consider the contents either whiskey or bitters.
Pictured below are some examples spotted throughout my travels. I remember my friend Jerry Forbes, ‘hawk eyeing’ an example at the FOHBC Memphis National last year during Early Admission. He purchased the bottle within seconds as he wisely knew, someone else was positioning themselves to do the same. My advice, if you see an example, try to get it. This bottles balances out and compliments any collection of early American glass.
FIGURAL BARREL, Deep Sapphire Blue, 10″ Tall, Bitters type Figural Barrel Bottle. American, circa. 1860-1880. Barrel form with ten rings above and ten rings below a wide center band, applied square collared mouth. Smooth base Great color. Good form. – Norman Heckler Auction 61, Lot #60, June 2003 – Meyer Collection
Read More: Is there a Blue Embossed Bitters Barrel?
Unembossed Blue Figural Barrel spotted on the shelves of the great Ferraro Collection (Connie & Bob Ferraro)
Unembossed Blue Figural Barrel, Deep Sapphire Blue – spotted at the 2012 Baltimore Antique Bottle Show
Blue Barrel part of the Jerry Forbes booty from the FOHBC National Show last July in Memphis, Tennessee
Unembossed Blue Figural Barrel, Deep Sapphire Blue – spotted at the Houston 2011 Bottle Show
Unembossed Blue Figural Barrel spotted on the shelves of the great Feldmann Collection
Blue Barrel dominating this picture – Jeff Burkhardt collection
Blue Barrel from the Meyer Collection. This is the source picture for the Peachridge Glass web site.
Blue Barrel showing up in the Dr. Daniel Bennett Collection at American Glass Gallery.
Blue barrel spotted at the FOHBC 2012 Reno Expo – Dave Olsen
Unembossed Barrel, (unlisted), American, ca. 1865 – 1875, cobalt blue barrel, 10”h, smooth base, applied mouth. A tiny chip is off the side of the lip. A pinhead in size flake is off a lower ring. An impressive ‘splashy’ barrel that adds a lot of pleasing color to any bitters collection! Purchased from Gary Eichhorn at the 1988 FOHBC Expo in Las Vegas. – Glass Works Auctions (Bob Ferraro Collection) Session 1
Read More on Figural Barrels
Barrel series – Original Pocahontas Bitters
Figural Barrel Series – Hall’s Bitters
Greeley’s Bourbon Whiskey Bitters – aka Vertical Greeley’s
