The unusual Mede’s Mexican Fluid – New York
12 March 2014
In case you haven’t noticed, Norman Heckler has this incredible, oddly shaped medicine in their upcoming Auction 108. The Mede’s Mexican Fluid is six sided, flaring from the base to the mid-section, then tapering from the mid-section to the shoulder. So what is the deal here with Mede and this bottle shape?
“Unlisted, an unheard of form, an unheard of name, an extremely rare, colored, pontiled medicine bottle.”
The Heckler listing:
Lot: 6 “Mede’s / Mexican / Fluid / New York” Medicine Bottle, America, 1850-1860. Most unusual six sided form flaring from the base to the mid-section then tapering from the mid-section to the shoulder, yellow amber, applied sloping collared mouth with ring – pontil scar, ht. 5 1/16 inches, greatest dia. 3 1/16 inches; (light exterior stain, 1/4 inch crack in one base corner). Unlisted, an unheard of form, an unheard of name, an extremely rare, colored, pontiled medicine bottle.
Estimate: $1,000 – $2,000 Minimum bid: $500
Mede’s Mexican Fluid New York – Heckler Auction 108
Mede’s Mexican Fluid New York – Heckler Auction 108
The bottle kind of reminds me of an Oriental Herb Bitters. That unlisted bitters is unembossed and rather weird too. The Mede’s bottle however, is a killer. I can find absolutely nothing on this bottle though Heckler has sold one before in his Auction 83 (see picture to the left). A few of the possible hits include John Mede (13), Charles Mede (11) sons of Margaret Mede (45), retail grocer. Margaret was born in Germany. – 1875 New York, State Census.
A second possibility might be George Henry de Mede who was a merchant, born in 1794 in Germany. I see his name on a New York passenger list arriving from Vera Cruz, Mexico to New York City on the ship Paragon on May 5, 1834.
That’s all she wrote. Anybody else have any information on this bottle?
