Looking at earlier Baltimore ‘Washington Monument’ Historical Flasks

Posted on 20 May 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

I had a little “Aha!” moment today when I came across a post by Steve Sewell over at AntiqueBottles.net where he succintly explained why early Washington Monument historical flasks did not have the Washington sculpture on top of the monument as later flasks such as the Baltimore “Corn for the World” flasks.

Corn for the World / Washington Monument historical flask with the George Washington sculpture on top of the monument.

“Determining the age of the flasks is quite easy as to the monument on each bottle is void of Washington’s statue affixed at the top. The Monument was partially completed in 1825, 10 years after its inception although a statue of Washington himself was soon to come”.

Steve Sewell

Example of the earlier Washington Monument without the George Washington sculpture. Fells Point/Slope-Monument Balto. Flask. (GVI - 2). American, CA. 1840 - 1860. Deep amethyst, Pontil base, sheared mouth, half-pint. Baltimore Glassworks, Baltimore, MD. Extremely rare color with the boldest mold impression - Dan Morphy Auctions

[Wikipedia] The Washington Monument in the elegant Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland was the first architectural monument planned to honor George Washington. In 1815, a statue was designed by Robert Mills, who also designed the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. Construction began in 1815 and was completed by 1829. The 178 foot doric column holds a ground-floor museum offering information about Washington as well as construction of the monument. Climbing the 228 steps to the top provides an excellent view of the city from the historic neighborhood where it is located. Its neighbors include the Peabody Institute.

The glorification of Washington began long before his death in December 1799, and the dedication of a memorial in his honor seemed certain. A monument honoring Washington in Baltimore was first proposed in 1809, and a committee was formed to commission and fund the monument. In 1811, the first of six lotteries, authorized by the Maryland General Assembly, was held, eventually raising enough funds to construct a Washington monument in Baltimore. Mills’s design was chosen in an architectural competition in 1815, and the cornerstone laid on July 4 of that year.

Early designs included rich ornamentation, six iron galleries dividing the hollow shaft into seven sections, and a quadriga surmounting the column. The design of the completed column is very similar to the Colonne Vendôme, which ultimately derived from Trajan’s Column and was adopted in this time of Neoclassicism in American architecture.
The monument, which was constructed of white marble from Cockeysville, rises 178 feet and consists of three main elements: a low, rectangular base containing a museum; a plain, unfluted column; and, atop the column, a standing figure of Washington. By the time of the monument’s completion in 1829, financial constraints had forced a series of design compromises which simplified the monument.

“Tradition recalls a prodigy occurring when the statue was raised to the summit of the monument – a shooting star dashed across the sky and an eagle lit on the head of the settling general.”

William Rusk, in his book “Art in Baltimore: Monuments and Memorials”, tells the following story about the raising of Italian sculptor Enrico Causici’s marble statue of Washington in 1829. “Tradition recalls a prodigy occurring when the statue was raised to the summit of the monument – a shooting star dashed across the sky and an eagle lit on the head of the settling general.”

Enrico Causici of Verona, Italy, who had sculpted several panels of the Rotunda of the United States Capitol. Causici created the statue of Washington out of three blocks of marble weighing about seven tons each. Financial considerations having eliminated the Roman chariot statue design, the sculptor instead depicted Washington resigning his commission as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental armies.

Before the monument could be completed, the monument which now resides in Washington Monument State Park (Boonsboro, Maryland), near the Appalachian Trail, was constructed in 1827, making it the first such in the nation. The iron fence around the base was designed by Mills and added in 1838. It contains some of the symbolism that had been deleted from the column due to cost considerations.

This historical flask commemorates George Washington with a figural bust on the front and has the Washington monument located in Baltimore on the reverse. Determining the age of the flasks is quite easy as both monuments on each bottle are void of Washington’s statue affixed at the top. The Monument was partially completed in 1825, 10 years after its inception although a statue of Washington himself was soon to come. These bottles were made between 1824 and 1829 just a few blocks South and East from the monuments site, as in November of 1829, Washington’s statue was finally placed atop the long shaft seen today. Later bottles from the Baltimore glass works and also from these Fells point works have Washington on the monument making them easier to date also. Both bottles are listed as scarce, are a pretty shade of light green, have busts of Washington not seen on like bottles and have rough pontils. Reference: Steve Sewell

Information on the Drake’s Plantation Bitters Variants

Posted on 19 May 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Drake’s Plantation Bitters mold variants (from left to right). D102, D103, D104, D105, D105.5, D106, D108, D108.5, D109, and D110 – Brian Shultis

Information on the Drake’s Plantation Bitters Variants

19 May 2012

Drakes authority Brian Shultis recently commented on facebook:

“There has been a lot of talk about Drake’s mold variants on here. I will post up a few comparison shots for those who don’t already know. Maybe it will interest a few collectors. First comparison is between a D 105 and D 106. Also, I noticed some of the auction houses don’t even list Drake’s by mold variant in their descriptions. Usually it is just listed as a 4, 5 or 6 log Drake’s”.

This made me want to pull out my Carlyn Ring & W.C. Ham Bitters Bottles and Bitters Bottles Supplement books and look more closely at my bottles, of which I have many as I specialize in color runs. I have listed each Ring & Ham Drake’s variant along with a picture of the bottle, if available, for illustrative purposes.

Drakes Plantation Bitters (6 log) – Meyer Collection

Drake’s Plantation Bitters was a very successful brand, probably exceeded only by Dr. Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters. Because of the large number of these bottles that were produced in the 4, 5 and 6 log cabin designs, it is probable that many molds were used. A careful study of the bottles would undoubtedly identify additional molds. ~~The 4 log variant is the oldest bottle.~~ Information listed in Ring and Ham but can not be supported.

The gentleman pictured in the ca. 1870 tintype above was fond enough of the product to have his picture taken with it!

D 102

D 102 // s // motif arabesque / DRAKES / motif arabesque / PLANTATION / BITTERS enclosed in a rectangle // 3 tiers of thatching // tier of thatching/ PATENTED / 1862 / tier of thatching // 3 tiers of thatching //
10 x 2 7/8 (6)
Square cabin, LTC, Applied mouth, Amber, Puce and Amethyst-Rare;
Green-Extremely rare
17 logs including the base, 6 logs over the label panels

D 102 Arabesque DRAKE’S PLANTATION BITTERS – Meyer Collection

D 103

D 103 // s // S T // DRAKE’S / 1860 / PLANTATION / BITTERS // 3 tiers of thatching // tier of thatching / PATENTED / 1862 / tier of thatching // 3 tiers of thatching //
10 x 2 7/8 (6)
Square cabin, LTC and LTCR, Applied mouth, Amber and Puce – Common;
17 logs including the base, 6 logs over label panels

D 103 DRAKES’S PLANTATION BITTERS – Meyer Colection

D 104

D 104 // s // S T // DRAKE’S / 1860 / PLANTATION / BITTERS // 3 tiers of thatching // tier of thatching / PATENTED / 1862 / tier of thatching // 3 tiers of thatching //
10 x 2 7/8 (6)
Square cabin, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Rare
6 logs over label panel on all four sides

D 104 DRAKE’S PLANTATION BITTERS comparison – Brian Shultis

D 104 DRAKE’S PLANTATION BITTERS label panel – Brian Shultis

D 105

D 105 // s // S T // DRAKE’S / 1860 / PLANTATION / X / BITTERS // 3 tiers of thatching // tier of thatching / PATENTED / 1862 / tier of thatching // 3 tiers of thatching //
10 x 2 7/8 (6)
Square cabin, LTC, Applied mouth, Amber and Puce – Common;
Yellow olive and Green – Rare; Aqua – Extremely rare
17 logs including the base, 6 logs over label panels

D 105 DRAKE’S PLANTATION BITTERS – Forbes Collection

D 105.5

D 105.5 // s // S T // DRAKE’S / 1860 / PLANTATION / X / BITTERS // 3 tiers of thatching // tier of thatching / PATENTED / 1862 / tier of thatching // 3 tiers of thatching //
10 x 2 7/8 (6)
Square cabin, LTC, Amber, Wide or expanded mouth, Extremely rare

Unlisted 5-log variant (D 109) with wide or expanded mouth similar to a D 105.5. – Brian Shultis

D 106

D 106 // s // S T // DRAKE’S / 1860 / PLANTATION / X / BITTERS // 3 tiers of thatching // tier of thatching / PATENTED / 1862 / tier of thatching // 3 tiers of thatching //
10 x 2 7/8 (6)
Square cabin, LTC and LTCR, Applied mouth, Amber and Puce – Common;
Green – Very rare
17 logs including the base, 6 logs over label panels
Variation in the word Bitters with smaller letters and off center placement, Variation with line under Bitters

DRAKES D 106 & D 105 comparison – Brian Shultis

D 106.5

D 106.5 // s // S T // DRAKE’S / 1860 / PLANTATION / X / BITTERS // 3 tiers of thatching // tier of thatching / PATENTED / 1862 / tier of thatching // 3 tiers of thatching //
10 1/4 x 2 7/8 (6)
Square cabin, LTC, Applied mouth, Amber, Very rare
17 logs including the base, a vertical log one log high at each corner of base, 6 logs over label panels. There are two tiers of thatching on reverse. Embossing is larger and more bold than on the previous bottles. The log pattern around the base and corners are indented and distinctly rounded. Thatching and log pattern are very bold, and the 1860, X, and BITTERS embossing is larger and very bold.

D 107

D 107 // s // S T // DRAKE’S / 1860 / PLANTATION / X / BITTERS // 3 tiers of thatching // tier of thatching / PATENTED / 1862 / tier of thatching // 3 tiers of thatching //
10 x 3 3/4 (6 1/4)
Square cabin expanded to become bulbous, Amber, LTC, Rough pontil mark
Extremely rare
One known example which is believe to be unique

The unique and bulbous D 107 DRAKE’S PLANTATION BITTERS as pictured in Bitters Bottles Supplement

D 107.5

D 107.5 // s // S. T. // DRAKE’S / 1860 in thatching / PLANTATION in thatching / BITTERS in thatching // 3 tiers of thatching // tier of thatching / PATENTED / tier of thatching interrupted by 1869 raised and interrupting thatching / 3 tiers of thatching //
10 x 2 7/8 (6)
Square Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Scarce
17 logs including the base, 6 logs over label panels
Roof embossing like D 108, roof configuration and base like D 105

D 108

D 108 // s // S T // DRAKE’S / 1860 / PLANTATION / X / BITTERS // 3 tiers of thatching // tier of thatching / PATENTED / 1862 raised and interrupting thatching / 3 tiers of thatching //
10 x 2 7/8 (6)
Square cabin, LTC, Applied mouth, Amber and Puce – Common;
Green – Very rare
17 logs including the base, 6 logs over label panels.

DRAKES D 108 & D 106 comparison – Brian Shultis

D 108.5

D 108.5 // s // S T // DRAKE’S / 1860 / PLANTATION / X / BITTERS // 3 tiers of thatching // tier of thatching / PATENTED / 1862 raised and interrupting thatching / 3 tiers of thatching //
9 7/8 x 2 7/8 (6)
Square cabin, LTC, Applied mouth, Amber, Extremely rare
17 logs including the base, 6 logs over label panels, base corners are chamfered on the bottom log.

Base on a D 108.5 Drake’s (chamfered base corners). Apparently two known examples – photo Brian Shultis

D 109

D 109 // s // DRAKES in thatching / PLANTATION in thatching / BITTERS in thatching // 3 tiers of thatching // tier of thatching / PATENTED / 1869 / tier of thatching // 3 tiers of thatching //
10 x 2 7/8 (6)
Square, LTC and LTCR, Applied mouth
Amber and puce, Scarce, Green – Extremely rare
15 logs including the base, 5 logs over label panels
Date of reverse usually misread as 1862

D 109 DRAKE’S PLANTATION BITTERS (5 log variant) – GreatAntiqueBottles.com

D 110

D 110 // s // S T // DRAKE’S / 1860 / PLANTATION / BITTERS // 3 tiers of thatching // tier of thatching / PATENTED / 1862 interrupting thatching / 3 tiers of thatching
10 1/4 x 2 5/8 (6)
Square cabin, LTC, Applied mouth and Tooled lip;
Amber, Common; Yellow, Scarce; Yellow olive, Scarce
15 logs including the base, 4 logs over label panels
Tooled lip example known with 1898 date on label

D 110 DRAKE’S PLANTATION BITTERS (4-Log variant, thin and tall neck) – Meyer Collection

Posted in Advice, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Facebook, Figural Bottles | Tagged 4-Log, 5 log, 6 log, bitters, Brian Shultis, Drake's Plantation Bitters, Drakes, mold, Plantation, thatching, variants | 18 Comments

Figural Pig Series | Duffy Crescent Saloon Figural Pig Bottle

Posted on 19 May 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

DUFFY CRESCENT SALOON

Figural Pig Series | Duffy Crescent Saloon Figural Pig Bottle

19 May 2012

Now 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

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

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

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

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

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Figural Bottles, Glass Companies & Works, Spirits, Whiskey | Tagged Bottle, Cowan's, Crescent, Denzin, Dr. Burton Spiller, Duffy, Figural, Gene Heisey, hog, Jim Cope, Kentucky, Kentucky Glass Works, Louisville, Pig, Saloon, Southern Glass Works | 3 Comments

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

Posted on 19 May 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

“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

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

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.

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Figural Bottles, History, Humor - Lighter Side, Spirits, Whiskey | Tagged Ass, Bourbon, Figural, Glass Works, Glenn Poch, hog, Meyer Collection, Pig, Whiskey, whiskey nip | Leave a comment

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

Posted on 18 May 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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

Posted in Figural Bottles, Whiskey | Tagged Beiser & Fisher, Figural, Jeff Noordsy, Live Auctioneers, Whiskey | 1 Comment

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

Posted on 17 May 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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]

Posted in Article Publications, Digging and Finding, Diving, History, News, Technology | Tagged artifacts, Atmospheric, bottles, ceramic, explore, Gulf of Mexico, Little Hercules, National Oceanic, NOAA, Okeanos Explorer, plate, ship, wooden | 2 Comments

Some historical glass pictures from the Philadelphia Museum Of Art

Posted on 16 May 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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 Allaire, american, collection, Glass, Historical Flask, museum, Philadelphia, sandor fuss | Leave a comment

Figural Pig Series | Berkshire Bitters

Posted on 16 May 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

BERKSHIRE BITTERS | AMANN & COMPANY | CINCINNATI, O

Berkshire Pigs

16 May 2012 (R•090516) (R•110816)

Berkshire 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.

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

“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

“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

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

“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)

“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)

Caloundra Bottle and Collectibles Show – Queensland

Posted on 16 May 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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 Australia, Bottle, Caloundra, Greg Dean, Queensland, show | Leave a comment

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

Posted on 15 May 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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

Posted in Digging and Finding, Flasks, Historical Flasks, News | Tagged antiques, case, Charter, display, Eagle, GII-60, Historical Flask, Oak, shop | 1 Comment

“Determining the age of the flasks is quite easy as to the monument on each bottle is void of Washington’s statue affixed at the top. The Monument was partially completed in 1825, 10 years after its inception although a statue of Washington himself was soon to come”.

Steve Sewell

“Tradition recalls a prodigy occurring when the statue was raised to the summit of the monument – a shooting star dashed across the sky and an eagle lit on the head of the settling general.”

Read More: The Washington Monument Bottle – Baltimore

Information on the Drake’s Plantation Bitters Variants

19 May 2012

D 102

D 103

D 104

D 105

D 105.5

D 106

D 106.5

D 107

D 107.5

D 108

D 108.5

D 109

D 110

DUFFY CRESCENT SALOON

Figural Pig Series | Duffy Crescent Saloon Figural Pig Bottle

19 May 2012

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

SOMETHING GOOD “IN A HOGS” …

DRINK WHILE IT LASTS / FROM THIS HOGS …

GOOD OLD BOURBON IN A HOGS …

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

“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”.

BERKSHIRE BITTERS | AMANN & COMPANY | CINCINNATI, O

Berkshire Pigs

16 May 2012 (R•090516) (R•110816)

Porkopolis

“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”

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 on Peachridge Glass on figural pigs:

In from FOHBC member Greg Dean from Down Under…

Hi Ferdinand,

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

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

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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.

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