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BOTTLE & GLASS COLLECTING NEWS

 
            Norm Heckler Auctions set a new world record on April 1, 2010 for the highest selling bottle of any auction.   The final bid price was $86,000,along with the 17% buyers premium, equaled a nice sum of $100,620.  
            The bottle is generally referred to as the ‘Firecracker Flask’ since the names of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson are embossed on the ridge of the flask along with the date of 1776.  This flask, also called the ‘Fifty Year Flask’, commemorates the death of Adams and Jefferson who both died on the July 4th, 1826, exactly fifty years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.   The flask, a rare deep sapphire blue pint, was manufactured at Kensington Glass Works in Philadelphia Pennsylvania between 1820-1840.

            American Bottle Auctions, Sacramento, California, concluded a bottle auction on May 8, 2009 which concluded in 302 lots bringing in total sales of $220,875, an average of $751 per bottle.   The highlight of this auction was $26,880 being paid for a Sachem’s Bitters in pure green, a record and the most ever paid for this specific variation.   Then, during another American Bottle auction concluded on August 21, 2009, 260 lots brought in total sales of $250,000.  The highlight of this auction was a medium chocolate amber California Clubhouse Whiskey bottle, circa 1872-1874, that sold for $30,240.  This bottle, only one of nine known examples, featured a fancy monogram in the center of the bottle, and a stunning embossing pattern.  Following this auction, Jeff  Wichmann, owner of ABA, stated, “The results of this auction told me that the antique bottle market is very strong despite a weak economy.”   

            Glass Works Auction, East Greenville, Pennsylvania, conducted a bottle auction on October 19, 2009, where a medium amber log-cabin, 9 1/8” tall Bitters Bottle, American Life Bitters/P.E., circa 1865-1875, sold for $26,000.     Another highlight in this auction was a rare Franktown Glass Works, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania Wormser Flask, circa 1859-1870, Union Clasped Hands, Eagle with Banner that sold for $19,000.       
           
            A new exhibition, “Pottery With a Past: Stoneware in Early America”, is on display at the Colonial Williamsburg’s DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum in Williamsburg, Virginia.   The exhibit, which will remain through January 2, 2011, ranges from the early 1600’s to the early 1800’s, and includes more than 300 intact objects and archaeological fragments recovered from sites in New England, the Middle Atlantic, and the Southern colonies.  During the first half of the Seventeenth Century, stoneware was the only method for storing liquids and food products.    For additional information, call 800-447-8679.     
             
            Want to learn about the art of glass making, and take a cruise at the same time?    Here’s your chance.  The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY is noted for its live, narrated glassblowing demonstrations.  Now, the Hot Glass Show will also be available on Celebrity Cruises newest ship, the Celebrity Solstice.  The ship will have a permanent glass studio developed and run by the museum on the top deck of the ship.   In addition, there will be glass sculptures and art exhibits throughout the ship as a decorative motif, with finished glass products being sold on the ship.    

            How many times have you admired 1930 era Seltzer bottles, especially in the various colors of blue and green, and thought how neat it would be to own one.   In 1997,  Russell Johnson of Cody,  Wyoming, was at a flea  market in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and noticed a man selling numerous antique Seltzer bottles.  He bought one back and showed it some of this peers in the interior design industry, and they wanted more.  Johnson started a business relationship with that seller, and now the bottles are cleaned, refurbished and recreated as pendant lamps, jars, votive candle holders, wine chillers, spoon holders, or just sold as is.   For more information, go to his web site at www.artthang.com.

            While we’re on the subject of refurbishing old bottles for new uses, Dr. Pepper soda bottles are now being featured on AMC’s new hit series, “Mad Men.”    The Dr. Pepper Museum, located in Waco, Texas, received a request for some 1960’s Dr. Pepper bottles for use in various scenes in the series.  But, “Mad Men” is not the only series using the bottles.   The recent Indiana Jones movie, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”, used a mint-green rust-covered Dr. Pepper vending machine along with various dinner-type accessories.  Mary Beth Webster, Collections Manager at the museum, said “Who would have ever thought there was all this stuff”.   I say, who would have ever thought it would be put back to good use again? 
 
            How about a front and back bar that sold for $302,500, during an auction conducted by Showtime Auction Services on October 4, 2009.  The mahogany bar, made around 1893 by Brunswick, Balke & Collender Co, also included an original matching liquor cabinet with adjustable shelves.  Mike Eckles, co-owner with his wife Lori of Showtime Auction Services, said that “We’ve only seen two of these bars in 25 years, and only one with a matching original liquor cabinet.” 

 
Auctions
 
 
Glass Works Auctions: “Christmas Comes Early Auction- December 4, 2010”
 
McMurray Auctions: Auction #44 November 13, 2010
 
American Glass Auctions: Auction #51 November 4, 2010
 
American Glass Gallery: Auction #5 November 15, 2010
 
Glass Works Auctions (Item 7) should be Glass Discoveries Auction #63 September 29, 2010
 
 
 
BottleAuction.com
Consignments being accepted for 2010 Auctions
Randy Driskill, PO Box 2146, Vista, CA  92085
Information:  760-415-6549 or www.bottleauction.com
 
Glass Works Auctions
Consignments being accepted for 2010 "Summer Sizzler"
PO Box 180, East Greenville, PA  18041
Information:  Jim Hagenbuch, 215-679-5849
www.glswrk-auction.com
 
 
American Bottle Auctions
Action #50 - May 24 - June 1, 2010
2523 J Street, Suite 203, Sacramento, CA 95816
Information: Jeff Wichmann 800-806-7722
www.americanbottle.com
 
 
Norman C. Heckler & Company
Consignments being accepted for 2010 Auctions
79 Bradford Corner Road, Woodstock Valley, CT
Information:  Norm Heckler 860-974-1634 www.hecklerauction.com
                                                                              
McMurray Antiques Auctions
Auction #43, June 19, 2010 10:00am
Auction #44, Fall 2010
Consignments being accepted for 2010 Auctions
PO Box 393, Kirkwood, N.Y.
Information: Terry McMurray - 607-775-232, 607-755-5972
 
American Glass Gallery
Auction #4 May 17, 2010
PO Box 227, New Hudson, MI 54165
Informaiton: John Pastor 248-486-0530 www.americanglassgallery.com
 
 
 
Glass Works Auctions
Auction #62 March 2010
PO Box 628, Parkman, OH 44080
Information:  Ray Klingensmith, 740-432-4302
www.glassdiscoveries.com
American Pottery Auction
March 20th & April 24th, 2010
PO Box 434, 10931 Main Street, Clarence, NY 14031
Information:  Vicki & Bruce Waasdorp, 716-759-2361
www.antiques-stoneware.com
 
 
Holabird-Kagin Americana Auctions
Consignments being accepted for 2010
3555 Airway Drive, Suite #308, Reno, NV 89511
Information: Fred Holabird , 877-852-8822
www.holabirdamericana.com