A little on African Gin bottles
22 October 2013
The two pictures above came across my wires with the email below. I was curious about the African embossing and why Dutch Gin was so popular in Africa, so I thought I would do a post. I also sent this e-mail over to Alan Blakeman at BBR in the UK for an assessment who commented, “Apart from the gin being badly cracked, it is a relatively very late item (by English glass standards)…. c. 1920’s, and not at all rare.”
My name is Caroline Rogers and I am a MA student studying MA Conservation of Historic Objects, at the University of Lincoln in the UK.
I have been given a green glass gin bottle to conserve, but I can’t seem to find a maker/manufacturer for the mark I can see on the bottom of the bottle. I am pretty sure it dates from around 1840 onwards. I believe it was found at Wilberforce House, in Hull UK. Please find attached photographs of the bottle.
I hope you or someone you know, might be able to help me.
Thank you, Caroline
Gordon’s Gin advertising poster featuring Humphrey Bogart from the 1951 film The African Queen. – ebay
These are two very nice articles that pretty much answered my questions regarding Gin in Africa. Please check them out.
Read: The Rise of Gin in Africa
Read: Message in a Bottle University of Liverpool
General store selling a diverse selection of imported ware – The Rise of Gin in Africa
AFRICAN GIN
Up for auction is a mid 19th century olive green “African” case gin bottle from the Netherlands. This bottle was found on the West African coast in the Niger River. Sold to West African costal traders who were involved in the transatlantic slave trade. Along with textiles, rifles, & gunpowder they were one of the most sought after european goods. The bottle has an applied top and was blown into a mold using a snap case. The bottle is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or bruises and stands at 9.5″ tall, 3″ x 3″ wide. There is an embossed triangle on the bottom. – ebay
Three Embossed Gin Bottles, late 19th century, in varying shades of green, including a TRADE MARK bottle with rooster, embossed “W. HASKAMP & C” on reverse; an AFRICAN T Co bottle with embossed serval; and an AFRICAN bottle. Provenance: Bill Cheesman Collection – Crocker Farm Auctions
Rare African MANYA OFU / TRADE MARK Gin Bottle with Embossed Seated Cat, circa 1900, featuring an embossed image of a seated cat between the words “TRADE” and “MARK”. Reverse embossed “MANYA OFU DIM’AOLILA”. Provenance: Bill Cheesman Collection – Crocker Farm Auctions
Three TRADE MARK Gin Bottles with Embossed Designs, late 19th century, in varying shades of green, two with hunting dogs holding birds, embossed “J.J. PETERS” on reverse; and one with flag surrounded by a wreath, embossed “AFRICAN. T. Co. LTD” on reverse. Provenance: Bill Cheesman collection – Crocker Farm Auctions
Read More on Gin on Peachridge Glass:
Beer Street and Gin Lane by William Hogarth
