Oriental Herb Bitters – A Real Oddity

Posted on 28 November 2011 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Oriental Herb Bitters (center) – Rick DeMarsh

Oriental Herb Bitters – A Real Oddity

28 November 2011

Apple-Touch-IconARick DeMarsh over at Rick’s Bottle Room (visit RicksBottleRoom.com) asked the following question on the PRG Facebook page. “Need some help on this one please, Oriental Herb Bitters“

At first I didn’t think the bottle was listed in Bitters Bottles or Bitters Bottle Supplement by Carlyn Ring & W.C. (Bill) Ham, though I believe I have seen it before. This looks to be un-embossed and once labeled. The trick is, how do you know name? Looks like something you might hang on your porch. Very foreign looking.

Note: Rick follows-up with an illustration from Ghost Town Bottles. See below.

Oriental Herb Bitters – from Ghost Town Bottles

[PRG] Rick…there is an O 80L (labeled only) Oriental Herb Bitters that does exist as a Square. L.S Loeb & Co. Deluth, Minnesota, 8 x 2 1/2, Amber. The sheared lip note matches. What you picture and illustrate is obviously far from being a ‘square”. Note the 8″ hgt syncs.

I suspect the listing in Ring & Ham is correct but the shape “Square” description is not. This oddity looks like it has been soldered together or is contructed like stained glass.

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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