Bitter Witch – What a great name!

21 April 2012 (R•043016)

In looking at the latest American Bottle Auctions | Auction #55 I was impressed, as usual, the the variety, depth and presentation of the bottles. That is expected. Next I was drawn to the BITTER WITCH flask which is usually passed by, by many collectors, because some say it did not contain a Bitters product nor does it have the ‘s’ on bitter.

This really doesn’t concern me. This is still a neat flask to collect (you will see pictures of my amber one below). With a double rolled lip and the sensuous flask shape, it is propelled into greatness by the addition of the horseshoe which gracefully follows and compliments the contours of the bottle shape.

the horseshoe usually points downward and it is said that “no witch will pass under it.”

Now a little on the horseshoe. Without a doubt, the most commonly encountered lucky charm in modern North America is the horseshoe. In regions where the horseshoe is placed facing upward, folks believe the horseshoe must point up “or the luck runs out.” In places where it is hung facing downward they say exactly the opposite, “it must point down so the luck can pour onto you.” However, in its function as an amulet for magical protection, especially over the doorways of barns and stables, the horseshoe usually points downward and it is said that “no witch will pass under it.”

The Bitters Witch example in Jeff Wichmann’s auction is a great color as you will see.

First the Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham Bitters Bottles listing:

B 112.5  BITTER WITCH, Circa 1870-1875

BITTER / motif horseshoe with TRADE / MARK / WITCH // sp //
8 x 4 x 2
Flask, Amber, DCM, Applied mouth, 2 sp
A Westeren brand.

The description in the American Bottle Auctions listing is as follows:

BITTER WITCH. Double roll applied collar. Here we have a western bottle that leaves some people scratching their heads. Although it has the name “Bitter”, it also has a horseshoe and is frankly a little odd. An old wives tale notes that witches were at one time afraid of horses and one could nail a horseshoe (open end down) onto their front door to prevent witches from entering their home. We’re not sure if this works, but it couldn’t hurt to try. Whatever the story, there’s nothing odd about the curved “R’s” and this beautiful yellow olive. In addition, it has some nice overall crudity with a double roll collar. A terrific San Francisco bottle, this is as good as they get. Grades a 9.8. See the great video of Jeff describing this bottle. Click Bitter Witch.

I did see some dialog over at Western Bitters News related to a Pratt’s New Life posting that I have noted below:

“I thought I saw an ad many years ago when I was reading an old 1870s Marysville newspaper at the Marysville library, showing Pratt as being the manufacturer or originator of the “Bitter Witch” product. Has anyone else seen something similar showing Pratt being involve with that product?”

“Interesting that you would bring that up. At the Anderson bottle show recently, I was talking to Tom Jacobs who mentioned a Bitter Witch with a full label was shown at the annual Ken Schwartz open house a few years ago. He mentioned that the manufacturer was indeed a well known medicine manufacturer in S.F. but could not recall exactly which one it was. he was going to send me a photo he had taken of the label. When and if I receive it, I will post it. From what he could recall, Bitter Witch was not a bitters or tonic, but a general remedy and cure all. Dale M.

The Bitter Witch Man – Los Angeles Herald, Tuesday, March 16, 1875

Read: Mystery of the “Bitter Witch” finally solved.

Yellow olive BITTER WITCH – ABA Auction #55 – Lot 93

Yellow olive BITTER WITCH – ABA Auction #55 – Lot 93

Amber BITTER WITCH – Meyer Collection

Amber BITTER WITCH – Meyer Collection

Amber BITTER WITCH – Meyer Collection

Amber BITTER WITCH – Meyer Collection