Figural Pig Series | Duffy Crescent Saloon Figural Pig Bottle

DUFFY CRESCENT SALOON


Figural Pig Series | Duffy Crescent Saloon Figural Pig Bottle

19 May 2012

Apple-Touch-IconANow here is a figural pig bottle that I do not possess and would very much like to add to my “pig pen”. The rare “pig bottle” embossed DUFFY (on banner) / Embossed Rooster / CRESCENT (inside crescent moon / SALOON / 204 / JEFFERSON STREET / LOUISVILLE / KY that have been found in amber, clear, aqua and cobalt blue glass are most likely products of either Kentucky Glass Works or Southern Glass Works. They do not carry a glasshouse marking to show where they were produced, but the approximate years they could have been made points to one of these two factories. Only one example of the cobalt pig has so far been found and showed at an auction in Indiana. Read more:  Louisville Glass Factories of the 19th Century – Part 3 by David Whitten

There are some absolutely stunning examples of this highly detailed figural pig that have sold in auctions in past years. I have pictured a few below for comparison. I find it interesting that the mouths are unfinished on such detailed bottles.

Figural Pig, DUFFY (on banner) / Embossed Rooster / CRESCENT (inside crescent moon / SALOON / 204 / JEFFERSON STREET / LOUISVILLE / KY, circa 1880 – 1900 – GreatAntiqueBottles.com

Figural Pig, DUFFY (on banner) / Embossed Rooster / CRESCENT (inside crescent moon / SALOON / 204 / JEFFERSON STREET / LOUISVILLE / KY, circa 1880 – 1900 – GreatAntiqueBottles.com

Figural Pig, DUFFY (on banner) / Embossed Rooster / CRESCENT (inside crescent moon / SALOON / 204 / JEFFERSON STREET / LOUISVILLE / KY, circa 1880 – 1900 – GreatAntiqueBottles.com


Aqua Duffy Saloon Figural Pig Bottle, American, ca 1878-79, made by either the Kentucky Glass Works, Louisville, Ky., or the Southern Glass Works. In deep aquamarine with molded hooves, ears and facial details, and with a rooster on a crescent moon and Crescent Saloon/214 Jefferson Street/Louisville/KY, long smooth base and rough sheared lip; 7.625″ long x 3.25″ high. Ex Dr. Burton Spiller Collection, Ex Jim Cope Collection – Cowan’s Auctions

Aqua Duffy Saloon Figural Pig Bottle, American, ca 1878-79, made by either the Kentucky Glass Works, Louisville, Ky., or the Southern Glass Works. In deep aquamarine with molded hooves, ears and facial details, and with a rooster on a crescent moon and Crescent Saloon/214 Jefferson Street/Louisville/KY, long smooth base and rough sheared lip; 7.625″ long x 3.25″ high. Ex Dr. Burton Spiller Collection, Ex Jim Cope Collection – Cowan’s Auctions

Aqua Duffy Saloon Figural Pig Bottle, American, ca 1878-79, made by either the Kentucky Glass Works, Louisville, Ky., or the Southern Glass Works. In deep aquamarine with molded hooves, ears and facial details, and with a rooster on a crescent moon and Crescent Saloon/214 Jefferson Street/Louisville/KY, long smooth base and rough sheared lip; 7.625″ long x 3.25″ high. Ex Dr. Burton Spiller Collection, Ex Jim Cope Collection – Cowan’s Auctions

Aqua Duffy Saloon Figural Pig Bottle, American, ca 1878-79, made by either the Kentucky Glass Works, Louisville, Ky., or the Southern Glass Works. In deep aquamarine with molded hooves, ears and facial details, and with a rooster on a crescent moon and Crescent Saloon/214 Jefferson Street/Louisville/KY, long smooth base and rough sheared lip; 7.625″ long x 3.25″ high. Ex Dr. Burton Spiller Collection, Ex Jim Cope Collection – Cowan’s Auctions


Amber Duffy Saloon Figural Pig Bottle, American, ca 1878-79. An amber Duffy Saloon figural pig bottle made by either the Kentucky Glass Works, Louisville, Ky. or the Southern Glass Works. In molded amber glass with hooves, ears and facial details, with a rooster on a crescent moon and Crescent Saloon/214 Jefferson Street/Louisville/KY, long smooth base; ht. 3.5, lg. 8 in. Descended in family who purchased in the 1930s. Condition: Rough sheared lip – Cowan’s Auctions

Amber Duffy Saloon Figural Pig Bottle, American, ca 1878-79. An amber Duffy Saloon figural pig bottle made by either the Kentucky Glass Works, Louisville, Ky. or the Southern Glass Works. In molded amber glass with hooves, ears and facial details, with a rooster on a crescent moon and Crescent Saloon/214 Jefferson Street/Louisville/KY, long smooth base; ht. 3.5, lg. 8 in. Descended in family who purchased in the 1930s. Condition: Rough sheared lip – Cowan’s Auctions

Amber Duffy Saloon Figural Pig Bottle, American, ca 1878-79. An amber Duffy Saloon figural pig bottle made by either the Kentucky Glass Works, Louisville, Ky. or the Southern Glass Works. In molded amber glass with hooves, ears and facial details, with a rooster on a crescent moon and Crescent Saloon/214 Jefferson Street/Louisville/KY, long smooth base; ht. 3.5, lg. 8 in. Descended in family who purchased in the 1930s. Condition: Rough sheared lip – Cowan’s Auctions

Amber Duffy Saloon Figural Pig Bottle, American, ca 1878-79. An amber Duffy Saloon figural pig bottle made by either the Kentucky Glass Works, Louisville, Ky. or the Southern Glass Works. In molded amber glass with hooves, ears and facial details, with a rooster on a crescent moon and Crescent Saloon/214 Jefferson Street/Louisville/KY, long smooth base; ht. 3.5, lg. 8 in. Descended in family who purchased in the 1930s. Condition: Rough sheared lip – Cowan’s Auctions


Figural Whiskey Pig, “DUFFY (motif of rooster on crescent moon) / CRESCENT / SALOON / 214 / JEFFERSON STREET / LOUISVILLE / KY.”, (Denzin, DUF-21), Kentucky, ca. 1865 – 1875, deep bluish aqua figural pig, 7 3/4” long, rough sheared mouth. A slight in manufacturing underfill exists on a rear foot near the testicles. Found in shades of amber, like lot 13, clear glass and on rare occasions, aqua. How rare? It’s been 12-years since we auctioned the last one! Gene Heisey Collection – Glass Works Auctions


Amber Duffy Saloon Figural Pig Bottle, American, ca 1880-81, made by either the Kentucky Glass Works, Louisville, Ky., or the Southern Glass Works. In deep amber with molded hooves, ears and facial details, and with a rooster on a crescent moon and Crescent Saloon/204 Jefferson Street/Louisville/KY, long smooth base and rough sheared lip. Retains traces of original gilding on moon; 7.625″ long x 3.25″ high – Cowan’s Auctions

Amber Duffy Saloon Figural Pig Bottle, American, ca 1880-81, made by either the Kentucky Glass Works, Louisville, Ky., or the Southern Glass Works. In deep amber with molded hooves, ears and facial details, and with a rooster on a crescent moon and Crescent Saloon/204 Jefferson Street/Louisville/KY, long smooth base and rough sheared lip. Retains traces of original gilding on moon; 7.625″ long x 3.25″ high – Cowan’s Auctions

Amber Duffy Saloon Figural Pig Bottle, American, ca 1880-81, made by either the Kentucky Glass Works, Louisville, Ky., or the Southern Glass Works. In deep amber with molded hooves, ears and facial details, and with a rooster on a crescent moon and Crescent Saloon/204 Jefferson Street/Louisville/KY, long smooth base and rough sheared lip. Retains traces of original gilding on moon; 7.625″ long x 3.25″ high – Cowan’s Auctions


Figural Whiskey Pig, “DUFFY (motif of rooster on crescent moon) / CRESCENT / SALOON / 204 / JEFFERSON STREET / LOUISVILLE / KY.”, (Denzin, DUF-22), Kentucky, ca. 1865 – 1875, golden yellow amber shading to a darker amber in the head figural pig, 7 5/8” long, rough sheared mouth. Pristine perfect, lacking any trace of wear or stain, as nice as any we’ve seen! Gene Heisey Collection – Glass Works Auctions

Figural Whiskey Pig, “DUFFY (motif of rooster on crescent moon) / CRESCENT / SALOON / 204 / JEFFERSON STREET / LOUISVILLE / KY.”, (Denzin, DUF-22), Kentucky, ca. 1865 – 1875, golden yellow amber shading to a darker amber in the head figural pig, 7 5/8” long, rough sheared mouth. Pristine perfect, lacking any trace of wear or stain, as nice as any we’ve seen! Gene Heisey Collection – Glass Works Auctions


Read More: Oral surgeon’s hobby — well, obsession — has become hard for him to contain by Doug Janz

Another case of bottle envy concerned the Blue Pig, a one-of-a-kind creation that held whiskey bottled by Duffy’s Crescent Saloon. Only a handful of these particular pig-shaped bottles exist in any color, but this brilliant cobalt color was unique, and Van Brocklin was highly skeptical it was genuine. 

After months of inquiring to a man in Indiana, he finally came face-to-face with the Blue Pig, which the potential seller had encased in bubble wrap in a cooler. 

“You could see the color so intensely,” Van Brocklin said. “I was going ‘Oh, man.’ I really didn’t believe it until I saw it.” 

And, of course, he bought it. The neck and opening of the bottle are on the pig’s rear end, meaning people drank from the pig’s butt. 

“It’s absolutely one of the best bottles I’ve ever owned,” Van Brocklin said.

DUFFY CRESCENT SALOON / LOUISVILLE figural pig, which is unique in cobalt blue – Ralph Van Brocklin

Ralph Van Brocklin in front of some great bottles including his cobalt blue Duffy Saloon figural pig – Southeast Bottle Club 2005


Read more: Figural Pig Series | Berkshire Bitters

Read more: Figural Pig Series | Suffolk Bitters

Read More: Figural Pig Series | Beiser & Fisher – NY Figural Whiskey Pig

Read More: Figural Pig Series – Something Good in a Hogs … – Drink While it Lasts from this Hogs …

Read More: A Stunning Pen of Pigs from Glass Works Auctions and Elsewhere

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Figural Pig Series – Something Good in a Hogs … – Drink While it Lasts from this Hogs …

“Using the cork to seal the contents at the rear allowed crude and rude jokes or slogans to enhance the product”

The next segment in the Figural Pig Series will focus on three whiskey nips that are embossed with slogans referring to the pig or hogs hind quarters or of course, ass. These phrases are “SOMETHING GOOD “IN A HOGS” (hand and finger pointing to rear of pig and mouth of bottle), DRINK WHILE IT LASTS, FROM THIS HOGS … and “GOOD OLD BOURBON IN A HOGS …” Quite humorous and representative of the times when drinking values were changing in America. These are fun bottles and reasonable obtainable. Each is different and look great when grouped.

Pigs were a sign of prosperity during the 1870’s–1890’s. The pigs were fed corn and corn was also used in the distilling of whiskey. The critters were cute and popular with the public so the distillers capitalized on these figurals as a marketable tool. The pig also represented the evils of drink. Using the cork to seal the contents at the rear allowed crude and rude jokes or slogans to enhance the product, for example “Something Good in a Hog’s –>” (with the arrow pointing to the rear). Beside glass, these pigs appear in pottery form. Anna Pottery from Anna, Illinois produced the famous Railroad Pig that goes for top dollar. The Kirkpatrick brothers who worked in Anna summed up their feelings in an article in the Jonesboro, Indiana Weekly Gazette in 1869: “It is rather a hoggish propensity to be guzzling whiskey, and if the habit is indulged in, will soon reduce a man below the level of the hog, and cause him to wallow in the gutter.”

Glenn Poch

SOMETHING GOOD “IN A HOGS” …

SOMETHING GOOD / “IN A HOGS”… (hand and finger pointing to rear of pig and mouth of bottle)
Clear glass, circa 1885 – 1900, American, 4 1/4”, PAT. W on smooth base, tooled lip. A scarce little whiskey nip.

SOMETHING GOOD / "IN A HOGS" ... figural whiskey pig - Meyer Collection

SOMETHING GOOD / "IN A HOGS" ... figural whiskey pig - Meyer Collection

SOMETHING GOOD / "IN A HOGS" ... figural whiskey pig - Meyer Collection

SOMETHING GOOD / "IN A HOGS" ... figural whiskey pig - Meyer Collection


DRINK WHILE IT LASTS / FROM THIS HOGS …

DRINK WHILE IT LASTS / FROM THIS HOGS …
Clear glass, circa 1885 – 1895, American
6 3/4”, smooth base, sheared and tooled lip. About perfect. One of the more difficult to obtain of the figural whiskey pig bottles

DRINK WHILE IT LASTS / FROM THIS HOGS ... figural whiskey pig - Meyer Collection

DRINK WHILE IT LASTS / FROM THIS HOGS ... figural whiskey pig - Meyer Collection

DRINK WHILE IT LASTS / FROM THIS HOGS ... figural whiskey pig - Meyer Collection

DRINK WHILE IT LASTS / FROM THIS HOGS ... figural whiskey pig - Meyer Collection


GOOD OLD BOURBON IN A HOGS …

GOOD OLD BOURBON / IN A HOGS …, (Denzin, GOO-31), American, ca. 1875 – 1885, medium honey amber figural pig, 6 3/4” long tooled mouth.

Figural Whiskey Pig, “GOOD OLD BOURBON / IN A HOGS -”, (Denzin, GOO-31), American, ca. 1875 - 1885, medium honey amber figural pig, 6 3/4” long tooled mouth. Perfect condition, not even a trace of wear! Gene Heisey Collection.

Read more: Figural Pig Series | Berkshire Bitters

Read more: Figural Pig Series | Suffolk Bitters

Read More: Figural Pig Series | Beiser & Fisher – NY Figural Whiskey Pig

Read More: A Stunning Pen of Pigs from Glass Works Auctions and Elsewhere

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Figural Pig Series | Beiser & Fisher – NY Figural Whiskey Pig

BEISER & KEISER N.Y


“This rare whiskey bottle is among the very rarest of the figural pigs and it is the key bottle that many collectors are missing in their “run” of piggies”.

Jeff Noordsy

Not much is know about the rare BEISER & FISHER – NY figural whiskey pig. It is however, an American bottle, circa 1865 – 1875. You do not see these bottles often, but in my opinion, the pig is a necessity for the figural bitters and whiskey collectors.

Always in amber, the pigs are stylized and ‘boxy’ in their form. They measure about 9.626″ inches long by 4″ inches tall. With an applied double ring top and a smooth base, these bottles are really exciting and look great when grouped with a Suffolk Bitters and a Berkshire Bitters.

Left: Berkshire Bitters | Right: Suffolk Bitters

Here are a few pictures I have put together. I ask for additional information and example pictures if you possess one of these pigs.

BEISER & FISHER figural pig - Cowan's Auctions - Ex: Dr. Burton Spiller Collection

BEISER & FISHER figural pig embossing detail - Cowan's Auctions

BEISER & FISHER - NY figural whiskey pig - Meyer Collection

BEISER & FISHER - NY figural whiskey pig - Meyer Collection

BEISER & FISHER - NY figural whiskey pig - Meyer Collection

BEISER & FISHER – NY Whiskey Pig , amber with an olive cast, figural pig, smooth base, 9 3/8"L x 3 3/4"H, applied double collar, American, C. 1870. - sold from Jeff and Holly Noordsy

Read more: Figural Pig Series | Berkshire Bitters

Read more: Figural Pig Series | Suffolk Bitters

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Lots of Bottles found in 200-year-old shipwreck discovered in northern Gulf of Mexico

This has been a fascinating story to follow. Please make SURE you watch the Video! Be patient as it takes a few moments to load. I am very much interested in where this ship was going, where it sank, what is was carrying and which flag was it sailing under. Elizabeth and I are certified rescue divers but wow, we can’t go this deep. This is ROV territory! I am trying to get the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors involved. Ferdinand

“Some of the more datable objects include what appears to be a type of ceramic plate that was popular between 1800 and 1830, and a wide variety of glass bottles”.

While most of the ship's wood has long since disintegrated, copper that sheathed the hull beneath the waterline as a protection against marine-boring organisms remains, leaving a copper shell retaining the form of the ship. The copper has turned green due to oxidation and chemical processes over more than a century on the seafloor. Oxidized copper sheathing and possible draft marks are visible on the bow of the ship - NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program

(CNN) — A wooden ship believed to be over 200 years old was discovered during a recent exploration of the northern Gulf of Mexico, according to a press release from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Scientists were able to view the remains of “anchors, navigational instruments, glass bottles, ceramic plates, cannons, and boxes of muskets” aboard the ship, NOAA stated.
“Artifacts in and around the wreck and the hull’s copper sheathing may date the vessel to the early to mid-19th century,” said Jack Irion, a maritime archaeologist with the Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

“Some of the more datable objects include what appears to be a type of ceramic plate that was popular between 1800 and 1830, and a wide variety of glass bottles. A rare ship’s stove on the site is one of only a handful of surviving examples in the world and the second one found on a shipwreck in the Gulf of Mexico.”

Scientists aboard the NOAA ship “Okeanos Explorer” were able to view the wreckage using advanced multi-beam mapping sonar technology and a remotely operated underwater vehicle, named “Little Hercules.” Little Hercules made 29 dives during the 56-day mission in March and April, according to NOAA.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management requested that NOAA investigate the site after it was originally detected as an “unknown sonar contact” by Shell Oil Company during a 2011 oil and gas survey of the Gulf, government officials said.

The expedition also used “telepresence” technology that allowed scientists and citizens on shore to partake in the exploration via the Internet as it happened. According to daily logs posted on NOAA’s website, others followed the exploration remotely using e-mail, on-line chat rooms, video streams, and file transfer sites to exchange information.
“Shipwrecks help to fill in some of the unwritten pages of history,” said Frank Cantelas, a maritime archaeologist with NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. “We explored four shipwrecks during this expedition and I believe this wreck was by far the most interesting and historic.”

The shipwreck site was located approximately 200 miles off the U.S. Gulf coast in water that was over 4,000 feet deep, according NOAA. Until now, the area has been relatively unexplored.

Read More: Energy industry uncovers old shipwreck site in Gulf of Mexico

NOAA's Seirios Camera Platform, operating above the Little Hercules ROV, images the anchor and remnants of a copper-sheathed shipwreck in the Gulf of Mexico - CNN

Photograph of the remains of the ships’ steering gear from the wreck of a wooden hulled sailing ship in over 7,000 feet of water. Image courtesy of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.


View video footage captured by the Little Hercules remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and camera platform during the April 26 ROV dive from NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer during the Gulf of Mexico Expedition 2012. The dive was conducted at site 15577 – a recently mapped but never-before seen shipwreck in the western Gulf of Mexico. The dive revealed the remnants of a copper-sheathed sailing ship, likely from the early to mid-19th century. While most of the wood has since disintegrated, the oxidized copper sheathing remained along with a variety of artifacts. These included plates, glass bottles, guns, cannons, the ship’s stove, navigational instruments, and anchors. This was a spectacular dive that represented a truly remarkable find. Video courtesy of NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program, Gulf of Mexico Expedition 2012.

View Video Footage

***Be patient loading the video as it takes a bit of time…well worth it [PRG]

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Some historical glass pictures from the Philadelphia Museum Of Art

Sandor Fuss visited me at Peach Ridge recently in Houston and said he was headed east during the following week for business. Sandor, like myself, builds glass adventures around business trips and in this instance, he was planning on visiting two prominant private collections and was making a stop at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I assume he saw many pieces of the Allaire Collection during his visit. Their American historical glass collection is rather well known and Sandor was kind enough to send a few pictures for posting.


Posted in Chestnut, Collectors & Collections, Early American Glass, Flasks, Freeblown Glass, Historical Flasks, Milk & Creamers, Museums, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Figural Pig Series | Berkshire Bitters

BERKSHIRE BITTERS | AMANN & COMPANY  | CINCINNATI, O

Berkshire Pigs

16 May 2012 (R•090516) (R•110816)

Apple-Touch-IconABerkshire pigs are a rare breed of pig originating from the English county of Berkshire. Herds of the breed are still maintained in England by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust at Aldenham Country Park, Hertfordshire, and by the South of England Rare Breeds Centre in Kent. The Berkshire is listed as ‘vulnerable’, as in 2008 fewer than 300 breeding sows were known to exist. Some pigs of the breed are also kept in New Zealand, but it is estimated that there are now fewer than a hundred purebred sows there.

In the United States, the American Berkshire Association, established in 1875, gives pedigrees only to pigs directly imported from established English herds or to those tracing directly back to such imported animals. The pig is also bred in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, under the trademarked name Kagoshima Kurobuta. [Wikipedia]

Read: The History of the Berkshire Breed

Porkopolis

Ever wonder why an early proprietor from Cincinnati, Ohio would use a bottle in the form of a pig to package his bitters in? In the mid-1860’s to mid-1870’s Cincinnati was in the middle of farm country. In fact, Cincinnati already had its first slaughterhouse when it was incorporated as a city in 1819. For the next 50-years river boats brought to Cincinnati so many pigs for slaughter that it became referred to as ‘Cincinnati the Pork City’ or the ‘Porkopolis’. Either of these two sayings can be found on most all ‘Railroad and River Guide’ pottery pig flasks made by the Anna Pottery of Southern Illinois. – Jim Hagenbuch (Glass Works Auctions)


“It is rather a hoggish propensity to be guzzling whiskey, and if the habit is indulged in, will soon reduce a man below the level of the hog, and cause him to wallow in the gutter”

Pigs were a sign of prosperity during the 1870’s-1890’s. The pigs were fed corn and corn was also used in the distilling of whiskey. The critters were cute and popular with the public so the distillers capitalized on these figurals as a marketable tool. The pig also represented the evils of drink. Using the cork to seal the contents at the rear allowed crude and rude jokes or slogans to enhance the product, for example SOMETHING GOOD “IN A HOGS ___ ” (with the arrow pointing to the rear).

Beside glass these pigs appear in pottery form. Anna Pottery (read further: A Stunning Pen of Pigs from Glass Works Auctions and Elsewhere) from Anna, Illinois produced the famous Railroad Pig that goes for top dollar. The Kirkpatrick brothers who worked in Anna summed up their feelings in an article in the Jonesboro, Indiana Weekly Gazette in 1869: “It is rather a hoggish propensity to be guzzling whiskey, and if the habit is indulged in, will soon reduce a man below the level of the hog, and cause him to wallow in the gutter”. Glenn Poch 1997. See: Whiskey & Bitter Pigs

Left: Berkshire Bitters | Right: Suffolk Bitters

Today we will look at the extremely popular figural pig called Berkshire Bitters. The manufacturer, Amann & Co., was started by Anthony and Edmund Amann in Cincinnati in 1869. Just a tad, ‘less cute” than the Suffolk Bitters which I wrote about last week, the Berkshire Bitters pig is anatomically correct in proportion and has slightly different molds. Always in shades of a dark amber and reddish amber, you will not find yellow  examples like the Suffolk Bitters pig. Carlyn Ring & W.C. Ham in Bitters Bottles note the following:

B 81  BERKSHIRE BITTERS // AMANN & COMPANY / CINCINNATI, O //
9 1/2 (long) x 10 3/8 (girth) 1 1/2 (neck)
Pig, short thin, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth and Sheared mouth, Scarce
To determine thin pig from fat, pigs were measured in circumference just behind from legs and ahead of stomach.
Circa 1869 – 1880 est.
Short Thin   9 1/2″ long – 10 3/8″ girth, 1 1/2″ neck
Short Fat   9 1/2″ long – 11 1/4″ girth, 1″ neck
Long Fat   10 1/2″ long – 11 3/8 girth, 3/4″ neck
B 81.2  BERKSHIRE BITTERS // AMANN & COMPANY / CINCINNATI, O //
9 1/2 (long) x 11 1/4 (girth) 1 1/2 (neck)
Pig short fat, Amber, Applied mouth, Scarce
B 81.4  BERKSHIRE BITTERS // AMANN & COMPANY / CINCINNATI, O //
10 1/2 (long) x 11 3/8 (girth) 3/4 (neck)
Pig long fat, Amber, Ground mouth, Scarce
One of the challenges in bitters collecting is to acquire all four variants of the Berkshire Bitters pigs.
Note: Edmund Amann lived in Cincinnati from 1873-1888. He owned Old Lexington Distillery No. 86, 8th District of Kentucky which was at Union Mills in Lessamine County. He sold the distillery in 1903 to Edward Gerdes.

Read more:  Lucky digger finds Antique Berkshire Bitters Bottle!


Here is a wonderful grouping of Berkshire Bitters pigs that have sold or are selling presently at auction houses or reside in collections.

BERKSHIRE BITTERS | AMANN & COMPANY | CINCINNATI, O – Medium to deep amber shading to a light golden amber through the rear feet, R/H B81. A scarce, desirable mold that does not come around often – American Glass Gallery Auction 8

BERKSHIRE BITTERS | AMANN & COMPANY | CINCINNATI, O – long fat variant. R/H B81.4, deep amber, ground lip – GreatAntiqueBottles.com

BERKSHIRE BITTERS | AMANN & COMPANY | CINCINNATI, O – Reddish amber shading to yellow amber in pigs feet, short, thin variant  – Meyer Collection

BERKSHIRE BITTERS | AMANN & COMPANY | CINCINNATI, O – Dense tobacco amber shading to a lighter golden tone in the rear feet, R/H B81.4 – American Glass Gallery Auction 8

This bottle was recovered in Old Sacramento SHP in 1978. Dark amber glass, in the form of a pig. Embossed on the side is “BERKSHIRE BITTERS//AMANN & CO/CINCINNATI O.” – photo California State Parks

Dark Amber “Berkshire Bitters” Figural Glass Pig-form Flask, Cincinnati, Ohio, late 19th century, with applied wide lip band, embossed lettering “Berkshire Bitters” on the left side and “Amann & Co. Cincinnati” on the right side – photo Skinner

BERKSHIRE BITTERS – AMANN & CO / CINCINNATI. O, (B-81.4), Ohio, ca. 1865 – 1875, tobacco amber shading to a lighter color in the feet and an almost totally yellow snout figural pig, 10 3/8” long, smooth base, ground mouth. Perfect condition with overall pebbly glass. This is the large fat variant. For some unknown reason a number of the long fat variants have various forms of damage, but not this one. Gene Heisey Collection – Glass Works Auctions

Amber glass with “Berkshire Bitters” on left side & “Amann & Co. Cincinnati” on right, this is the fat pig, 10″ long & mold blown – Cowan’s Auctions

Berkshire003

“BERKSHIRE . BITTERS – AMANN & CO / CINCINNATI. O”, (B-81.4), Ohio, ca. 1865 – 1875, deep olive amber pig, 10 1/2” long, smooth base, sheared and ground lip has a tiny grinding chip, about perfect (a sand grain located on the pigs back has a very tiny 1/16” radiation stemming form it). Good luster, bold impression, and you’ll need a good light and good eyes to find this flaw! This is the long, fat variant. – Glass Works Auction #96

Berkshire002

“BERKSHIRE . BITTERS – AMANN & CO / CINCINNATI, O”, (B-81), Ohio, ca. 1865 – 1875, deep amber shading to an almost yellow coloration in the pigs hind legs, 9 1/2” long, smooth base, sheared and applied mouth. – Glass Works Auction #96

BerkshirePotteryPig

Pottery Pig Bottle, “BERKSHIRE BITTERS – AMANN & CO. / CINCINNATI, O.”, American, overall Albany type brown glaze, 8” long. The pig appears to be in perfect condition but the Amann & Co. Cincinnati, O. lettering is almost obliterated. The age of this pig is uncertain. The form is identical to that of the short fat Berkshire Bitters but having overall smaller dimensions. The oddity of it is that after it was glazed, it was never fired, so it was never filled. – Glass Works Auction #96

BerkshireBitters_Ferraro

“BERKSHIRE BITTERS – AMANN & CO / CINCINNATI, O.”, (Ring/Ham, B-81), Ohio, ca. 1865 – 1875, red amber shading to yellow amber in the feet and snout, 9 1/2” long, smooth base, applied mouth. A pinhead in size flake is off the tip of the snout. Nice shading of color and lighter than most. This is the short thin variant. Purchased from Jim Mitchell in 2008. – Glass Works Auctions #112 – Bob Ferraro Collection (Part 1)

berkshireshortbob_session2_gwa

“BERKSHIRE BITTERS – AMANN & CO / CINCINNATI, O.”, (Ring/Ham, B-81), Ohio, ca. 1865 – 1875, medium amber shading to a deeper amber in the feet and snout, 9 1/4” long, smooth base, applied mouth. Some areas of wear exist. Also a tiny flake is off the side of the lip. This is the short fat variant. Purchased from Rick Meyer in 1971. – Glass Works Auctions #112 – Bob Ferraro Collection (Part 2)

Apple-Touch-IconARead More on Peachridge Glass on figural pigs:

A Stunning Pen of Pigs from Glass Works Auctions and Elsewhere

Figural Pig Series | Suffolk Bitters

Figural Pig Series | Beiser & Fisher – NY Figural Whiskey Pig

Figural Pig Series | Duffy Crescent Saloon Figural Pig Bottle

Figural Pig Series – Something Good in a Hogs … – Drink While it Lasts from this Hogs

Figural Pig Series | Beiser & Fisher – NY Figural Whiskey Pig

Posted in Auction News, Bitters, Digging and Finding, Figural Bottles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Caloundra Bottle and Collectibles Show – Queensland

In from FOHBC member Greg Dean from Down Under…

Hi Ferdinand,

Hope all  is well with you stateside. Thought I’d share a few images for the Federation Web from one of the bigger bottle shows in Australia staged last weekend. Caloundra is located in south-eastern Queensland which geographically is near  the lower end of “The Great Barrier Reef”. It’s a lot like Florida and folks here do love to come and look at a show. The show content is little different here with a high number of displays. There was 1,200 feet of swap and sell with a large concentration of antiques and  collectables dealers. All up, almost 3,100 people came through the doors and the hosting club were able to donate $5,000 to be resident helicopter rescue charity.

I took over 100 photos of the event and selected a group that may be of interest to those in the US. I’ll let you judge. There are a couple of lid displays that would be good for the pot lid section.

Best regards,

Greg Dean

Forgot to mention that the 2013 Australian National will be hosted by this club and venue. This particular bottle club is pretty innovative. It’s the second time I’ve seen here a club rent an ATM to help support the vast number of folks paying for swap and sell. These aren’t expensive for two days and definitely made a difference! Not sure how many times they filled it up however on day one it dispensed north of 30 K. I use to attend Baltimore quite regularly and wished there was one of these there. Anyway just an obscurity.

Posted in Ales & Ciders, Black Glass, Bottle Shows, Club News, Collectors & Collections, FOHBC News, Mineral Water, News, Pot Lids, Seltzer | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

He is in Houston 2 Hours and I’m in Houston 30 Years and he finds what?

On the right of each page on Peachridge Glass web site is a Categories list that I continually add to as the site expands. I wish I could think of two words to file these types of stories like, “you’ve got to be kidding me”, “why doesn’t this ever happen to me” or “the bottle gods are on my side”. My point is, there are just so many great stories about finds happening all the time. For housekeeping purposes you will find these under ‘Digging and Finding’ for now. Anyway…what a great email. This fellow is in Houston and has 2 spare hours and he finds a Charter Oak. Go figure!

FYI…I will be speaking on this topic of ‘recent finds and trends’ during one of the seminars at the FOHBC 2012 Reno Expo in late July.

Ferdinand, I was in Houston today visiting the eye doctor and had about 2 hours to hit antique stores. I found this Charter Oak, GII-60 for a whopping $45. I like to have had a heart attack paying for this so quickly. The amazing thing, it was about 50 feet from a bottle collectors booth, in a keyed china cabinet, on the bottom shelf next to a plate. It is absolutely perfect and looks like it was made yesterday. The embossing of the eagle and tree is the best I have ever seen on any bottle in the last 48 years. I collect teakettle inks, but with this find, I may have to start collecting flasks. I read the charter oak article as I was searching for info trying to ID this flask. Your site did it for me. Regards Bayou Bottles

PS: Keep up the great work you do for the hobby.

Read More: The Charter Oak Historical Flask

This reminds me of the time I wrote about the Dr. Wheeler’s Tonic Sherry Wine Bitters and Dennis Rogers, out west, finds one in an antique shop the following week. Read: The Johnnie Walker Box and the Dr. Wheeler’s – or You’ve Got to be Kidding Me!

GII-60 - Half pint Charter Oak - Eagle – “Liberty” / Oak Tree historical flask found in a Houston antique store cabinet - Eagle side

GII-60 - Half pint Charter Oak - Eagle – “Liberty” / Oak Tree historical flask found in a Houston antique store cabinet - Oak side

Posted in Digging and Finding, Flasks, Historical Flasks, News | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Seltzer delivery man practices bygone craft in New York City

Incoming email from Dave Maryo (Los Angeles Historical Bottle Club). I really enjoyed and was impressed with this story. Thanks Dave!

Hi Ferd,

Just saw a story on seltzer bottles on MSNBC. Thought you might like to see it. http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/11/11604855-seltzer-delivery-man-practices-bygone-craft-in-new-york-city?lite

Dave

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Figural Pig Series | Suffolk Bitters

SUFFOLK BITTERS | PHILBROOK & TUCKER | BOSTON


Figural Pig Series | Suffolk Bitters

13 May 2012 (R•090614) (R•090218)

Apple-Touch-IconAA popular and favorite figural bitters to many collectors is the Suffolk Bitters put out by Philbrook & Tucker in Boston, Massachusetts. Perfectly proportioned and detailed, the pigs usually come in an exciting range of ambers and yellows with some having a definite olive tone. The glass usually has color variations depending on looking at different areas of the pig form and glass thickness. The examples with applied double collar mouths complete the bottle from snout to tail. What a great bottle!

Figural bitters pigs – American Glass Gallery

Carlyn Ring & W.C. Ham in Bitters Bottles note the following:

S 217  SUFFOLK BITTERS
SUFFOLK BITTERS // PHILBROOK & TUCKER / BOSTON // c //
10 1/8 x 3 3/4 (10 1/8 diameter behind front legs)
Pig, DC, NSC, and Ground lip
Amber, Common; Yellow, Scarce; Yellow with olive tone, Very rare
Philbrook, Tucker & Blanchard, Sole Proprietors for the U.S. (Philbrook & Tucker, grocers, 103 & 105 Blackstone)
63 & 108 Blackstone St., Boston, Massachusetts,
Label: In introducing these bitters to the American public we do not claim that they will cure every ill that man is heir to. They are the production of a celebrated English chemist, are purely vegetable and are composed of roots and herbs of forest growth. To the dyspeptic, the bilious, and debilitated they have no equal. As an appetizer the invigorating of this tonic are unsurpassed. Address dates label to 1870.
Boston Directory: 1840 Philbrook, Jas.; 1849-50, Philbrook, Geo.; 1870-74 Philbrook & Tucker (Joseph W. Philbrook & Herman Tucker); 1875 Philbrook & Co. (J.W. Philbrook); 1880 Philbrook & Co. (Thomas G. Anderson)

Joseph W. Philbrook was born in Bradford, Vermont on 12 November 1836. His father was Alfred S. Philbrook and his mother was named Susan. Philbrook married Emma C. Bacon on 15 December 1863 in Boston, Massachusetts. They had two Children, Charles (or Clark) and Anna. Charles would later clerk for his father.

J. W. Philbrook surfaces first as a junk dealer in Boston in 1859-60 at 275 Causeway. During the Civil War, he was listed as a Private in 1863 with the Massachusetts Volunteers, Company F.

From 1865-74 or so, we see Joseph W. Philbrook & Herman Tucker partnering as Philbrook & Tucker grocers at 103 and 105 Blackstone in Boston. This partnership and locale is embossed on the Suffolk Bitters figural pig. The “Suffolk” in this case means Suffulk County, Massachusetts and not Suffolk, Virginia as one might first guess.

By 1874, Tucker is gone and we see Joseph W. Philbrook listed as selling groceries and liquors at 103 and 105 Blackstone. His son, Charles C. Philbrook was a clerk.

Joseph W. Philbrook filed for bankruptcy 0n 03 April 1874 and died on 15 May 1875 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was only 38 years old.

It is interesting that Ring & Ham note a surviving label reading,

In introducing these bitters to the American public we do not claim that they will cure every ill that man is heir to. They are the production of a celebrated English chemist, are purely vegetable and are composed of roots and herbs of forest growth. To the dyspeptic, the bilious, and debilitated they have no equal. As an appetizer the invigorating of this tonic are unsurpassed.

Has anyone seen this label from 1870? I sure have not. I also have seen no advertising or reference to the product in my searches. I have put some pictures of pigs in the pen below for your enjoyment. These are awesome figural bitters bottles!

Reproduction bottles were also made. Read: 1970’s Suffolk Pig reproductions, but way cool…

PIG PEN

SUFFOLK BITTERS  | PHILBROOK & TUCKER BOSTON, Bright lemon yellow through the body shading to a warmer tone with a hint of topaz through the head and almost a clear yellow through the hind feet – American Glass Gallery Auction 8

SUFFOLK BITTERS | PHILBROOK & TUCKER BOSTON, Brilliant yellowish hue with touch of green. Color changes front to back – Meyer Collection

SUFFOLK BITTERS | PHILBROOK & TUCKER BOSTON, Lemon yellow – Meyer Collection

SUFFOLK BITTERS | PHILBROOK & TUCKER BOSTON, Golden amber in the head shading to a bright honey color through the body and virtually yellow in the feet – American Glass Gallery Auction 8

SUFFOLK BITTERS | PHILBROOK & TUCKER BOSTON, Bright yellow. There is a really cool wave of glass crossing the body that adds character – GreatAntiqueBottles.com

SUFFOLK BITTERS | PHILBROOK & TUCKER BOSTON – Antique Figural Bottles Hall of Fame – David Jackson

Yellow-Amber “PHILBROOK & TUCKER SUFFOLK BITTERS” Pig-form Flask, “Boston,” c. 1870, with applied double round-banded collar, embossed lettering, lg. 9 3/4 in. – Skinner (PRG: color description and estimate at $400-$600 way off as this sold for $4,250,.00). This is a fantastic light shade of yellow!

SUFFOLK BITTERS | PHILBROOK & TUCKER BOSTON – photo Love Auctioneers

SUFFOLK BITTERS | PHILBROOK & TUCKER BOSTON, Yellow with black speckles – GreatAntiqueBottles.com

SUFFOLK BITTERS | PHILBROOK & TUCKER BOSTON – yellow with an olive tone in the facial features where the glass is more dense, applied double collared mouth – Norman C. Heckler & Company

SUFFOLK BITTERS | PHILBROOK & TUCKER BOSTON, bright orange amber, bordering a yellow amber through the base and mouth area. This one has the rare squared collar “medicine type” top. – BottleShow.com

SuffolkPig_GWA104

“SUFFOLK BITTERS – PHILBROOK & TUCKER / BOSTON”, (Ring/Ham, S-217), Massachusetts, ca. 1865 – 1875, medium olive yellow shading to almost clear in the feet, 10” long, smooth base, applied double collar mouth. Ex. Dr. Burton Spiller Collection, Paul Hadley Collection. – Glass Works Auctions

Select Listings:

1837: Joseph W. Philbrook birth on 12 November 1836, Bradford, Vermont, Father: Alfred S. Philbrook, Mother: Susan Philbrook
1859-60: J. Philbrook, junk dealer, 275 Causeway – Boston Massachusetts City Directory
1863: Joseph W. Philbrook marriage to Emma C. Bacon, 15 December 1863, Boston, Massachusetts
1863: Joseph W. Philbrook, Massachusetts Volunteers, Company F, Private – Boston Massachusetts City Directory
1865: J W Philbrook, Married, Birth Year: abt 1834, Birth Place: Vermont, Residence: Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, Enumeration Year: 1865, Age: 31, Ward: 8, Household Members: E C Bacon 59, Lillian C Bacon 15, J W Philbrook 31, E C Philbrook 28 – Massachusetts State Census
1865-70: Philbrook & Tucker (Joseph W. Philbrook & Herman Tucker), grocers, 103 and 105 Blackstone – Boston Massachusetts City Directory
1870: J W Philbrook, grocer, Age in 1870: 32, Birth Year: abt 1838, Birthplace: Massachusetts, Dwelling Number: 82, Home in 1870: Boston Ward 5, Suffolk, Massachusetts, Inferred Spouse: Emma Philbrook, Inferred Children: Clark Philbrook, Household Members: J W Philbrook 32, Emma Philbrook 34, Clark Philbrook 3, Ann Philbrook 4 – United States Federal Census
1874: Joseph W. Philbrook, grocers and liquors,103 and 105 Blackstone, Charles C. Philbrook, clerk – Boston Massachusetts City Directory
1874: Notice (below) Bankruptcy of Joseph W. PhilbrookThe Boston Globe, Tuesday, April 7 1874

1875: Joseph W. Philbrook death 15 May 1875, Boston, Massachusetts

 

Posted in Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Figural Bottles, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments