C.C. Jerome National Bitters from Detroit

Jerome Bitters Pair

C.C. Jerome National Bitters Pair – Scharnowske Collection

C.C. Jerome National Bitters from Detroit

04 July 2011 (R•090518)

Another very exciting email from noted Michigan collector Jeff “scharno” Scharnowske…

OK, now for something more up your alley, Ferd. Here are the only two known examples (pictured above) of the triangular shaped C.C. Jerome National Bitters from Detroit. These two and the coffin shaped example that Sandor purchased recently are the only known Jerome bitters. You might as well report on your website that I was the fool who paid $11,500 (plus the premium) for the cracked example from ABA’s most recent auction. I just had to bring this bottle back to Michigan, since my collection is mainly Michigan bottles.

[Editor Note: Fool One Day…Brilliant the Next!]

The example on the left is from American Bottle Auctions and is a dark black amethyst color. The example on the right is the one that came out of the Detroit River 35+ years ago, with a small hole in one base corner. It broke into about 6 pieces when they tried to tumble it in the ’70’s and Spangler put it back together. It is a medium plum or strawberry puce color and they complement each other nicely.

Note the stretched out neck on the lighter color example, it was stretched out when the glass was still warm and they were applying the lip. By examining details of the embossing, you can see that the two bottles were definitely made in the same mold. Why is this bottle so rare, when they evidently made at least two batches of them, in two different colors? We may never know.

Jeff “scharno” Scharnowske

Read previous PRG Post on the C.C  Jerome National Bitters

About Ferdinand Meyer V

Ferdinand Meyer V is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and has a BFA in Fine Art and Graphic Design from the Kansas City Art Institute and School of Design. Ferdinand is the founding Principal of FMG Design, a nationally recognized design consultation firm. Ferdinand is a passionate collector of American historical glass specializing in bitters bottles, color runs and related classic figural bottles. He is married to Elizabeth Jane Meyer and lives in Houston, Texas with their daughter and three wonderful grandchildren. The Meyers are also very involved in Quarter Horses, antiques and early United States postage stamps. Ferdinand is the past 6-year President of the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors and is one of the founding members of the FOHBC Virtual Museum.
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One Response to C.C. Jerome National Bitters from Detroit

  1. Froggy says:

    Awesome Jeff! Smart buy. I expected this rare bird to fly much higher in ABA sale. The rest of us Bitters guys were sleeping. Also, it’s neat to know where the other example is; had heard the story many years ago, but didn’t know where the 1st Jerome’s resided.

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