Peachridge Glass

Beiser & Fisher – NY Figural Whiskey Pig

Ferdinand Meyer V — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:44:41 +0000

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 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

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

Ferdinand Meyer V — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:21:11 +0000

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.

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]

Some historical glass pictures from the Philadelphia Museum Of Art

Ferdinand Meyer V — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:04:11 +0000

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.

Figural Pig Series | Berkshire Bitters

Ferdinand Meyer V — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:10:16 +0000

BERKSHIRE BITTERS | AMANN & COMPANY | CINCINNATI, O

“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

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.

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

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

Caloundra Bottle and Collectibles Show – Queensland

Ferdinand Meyer V — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:05:27 +0000

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.

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

Ferdinand Meyer V — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:38:23 +0000

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.

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

Seltzer delivery man practices bygone craft in New York City

Ferdinand Meyer V — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:13:57 +0000

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

Figural Pig Series | Suffolk Bitters

Ferdinand Meyer V — Sun, 13 May 2012 21:18:43 +0000

SUFFOLK BITTERS | PHILBROOK & TUCKER BOSTON

A popular and favorite figural bitters to many collectors is the Suffolk Bitters. 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. The examples with applied double collar mouths complete the bottle from snout to tail. What a great bottle. Carlyn Ring & W.C. Ham in Bitters Bottles note the following:

S 217 SUFFOLK BITTERS, Circa 1865 – 1874

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.
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)

It is interesting that Ring & Ham note a label. Has anyone seen this? 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!

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

Four Really Nice Inks featured in American Glass Gallery Auction 8

Ferdinand Meyer V — Sun, 13 May 2012 11:18:57 +0000

INKS continue to be in the news with some stunners in the latest American Glass Gallery Auction 8 which is now online. A few babies that really caught my attention are highlighted below.

“J – & I – E – M” Turtle Ink, America, 1865 – 1890. Clear medium blue green with a teal tone, cylindrical with domed shoulders and offset neck, sheared mouth – smooth base, ht. 1 5/8”, near mint; (two shallow sliver-type flakes at the side of the neck below the fine horizontal rim and a little interior residue that would likely easily wash out, otherwise perfect). Similar to C#627. Outstanding color, beautiful example.

“J - & I – E – M” Turtle Ink - American Glass Gallery Auction 8 - Lot 68

Pattern Molded Inkwell, twenty vertical ribs, probably America, 1825 – 1845. Brilliant clear olive with a bright yellowish almost lime tone, outstanding reddish striations swirling from the neck through the base, square, sheared mouth, blowpipe pontil scar, ht. 1 3/8”, near mint; (a tiny pinpoint bit of roughness and a small 1/16” flake on the edge of sheared mouth, otherwise pristine). C#1116. An extremely rare, possibly unique pattern molded ink. The color and striations are exceptional! Provenance: Ex. William Covill Collection.

Pattern Molded Inkwell - American Glass Gallery Auction 8 - Lot 69

“Estes – N.Y. – Ink”, America, 1847 – 1860. Brilliant olive yellow, 8-sided umbrella form, inward rolled mouth, blowpipe pontil scar, ht. 3 1/8”, near mint; (a little faint exterior wear, otherwise perfect). Similar to C#117. A very scarce mold, exceptional, absolutely stunning color! In addition, the glass is highly whittled and filled with tiny seed bubbles giving it plenty of character and eye appeal. Provenance: Ex. Bob Mebane collection (#591), and pictured on the cover of the Mebane catalog. As noted in the text of the Mebane catalog, the description states, “one of the best”, and we would have to agree!

“Estes – N.Y. – Ink” American Glass Gallery Auction 8 - Lot 70

Umbrella Ink, America, 1840 – 1860. Brilliant medium to deep cobalt blue, 8-sided umbrella form, sheared and inward rolled mouth – delicate blowpipe pontil scar, ht. 2 ½”, near mint; (just a touch of expected light exterior wear). Form similar to C#129. Gorgeous color and clarity, nice whittled wavy glass, a beautiful example! Read more about this great little ink, and the young collector who had the great fortune of finding it, in the May issue of Antique Bottle & Glass Collector! As noted in AB&GC, this fantastic little ink bottle was dug by a young collector in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, this past year. Amazingly, the bottle only needed a light cleaning by hand with soap and water and has never been tumbled! A clean, bright example that could easily pass for an attic find!

Umbrella Ink - American Glass Gallery Auction 8 - Lot 72

The Charter Oak Historical Flask

Ferdinand Meyer V — Sat, 12 May 2012 21:35:55 +0000

John Pastor, pictured with Liz Maxbauer above, had this great little flask called a Charter Oak at the 2012 Baltimore Bottle Show (Read further: A Salute to the 2012 Baltimore Antique Bottle Show) this past March. It was part of a preview series of bottles for their upcoming American Glass Gallery Auction 8, which is occurring now and is online (visit auction).

Sandor Fuss (Denver, Colorado) took me over to the Pastor | American Glass Gallery booth and showed me this exquisite little gem. I typically like the larger quart and pint sized historical flasks but have to admit, good things can come in smaller sizes. This flask is drop dead gorgeous!

Sandor Fuss holding the Charter Oak (eagle side) at the 2012 Baltimore Bottle Show

GII-60 - Eagle – “Liberty” / Oak Tree Historical Flask as reviewed at the 2012 Baltimore Bottle Show - American Glass Gallery

Seeing the bottle again online refreshed my memory of the Baltimore moment and made me want to develop this post and find out a little more on the Charter Oak.

[Wikipedia] The Charter Oak was an unusually large white oak tree growing, from around the 12th or 13th century until 1856, on what the English colonists named Wyllys Hyll, in Hartford, Connecticut. According to tradition, Connecticut’s Royal Charter of 1662 was hidden within the hollow of the tree to thwart its confiscation by the English governor-general. The oak became a symbol of American independence and is commemorated on the Connecticut State Quarter.

1908 Postcard showing the Charter Oak Hartford, CT

The American Glass Gallery Auction #8 description:

Eagle – Liberty / Oak Tree Historical Flask, America, 1825 – 1835. Bright yellow green, sheared mouth – pontil scar, half pint, very near mint; (a small flake or bit of roughness on one of the raised beads near the base, on the reverse, otherwise attic mint). GII-60. A scarce mold in an extremely rare and desirable color with only one other example known to exist in a similar shade. An exceptional little flask with great eye appeal!

GII-60 - Eagle – “Liberty” / Oak Tree Historical Flask - American Glass Gallery

Here are two more examples of this beautiful flask in aqua.

EAGLE - "LIBERTY" / OAK TREE, (McK# GII-60), aquamarine, pontil scar, half-pint, sheared and fire polished mouth, a mint flask with some expected wear at the high points. American, 1820-1840, scarce. This desirable little Charter Oak flask is a better than normal example of its type with good mold detailing and some glass crudity. Although it is not known with certainty where it was blown, we are of the opinion that this is a Pittsburgh made flask - Jeff and Holly Noordsy

GII-60, CHARTER OAK LIBERTY, Eagle, Half Pint, Great Aquamarine, Historical Flask - eBay