COMPLIMENTARY COPY TM
The Most Widely Read Collector's Newspaper In The East Published Weekly By Joel Sater Publications www.antiquesandauctionnews.net
VOL. 46, NO. 20 FRIDAY MAY 15, 2015
Early Pittsburgh Historical Flask Soars To $57,330 At Norman C. Heckler & Company Auction n early Pittsburgh district double eagle historical flask, made between 1820 and 1840 in Pittsburgh, Pa., and boasting a bright yellow green color with an olive tone, sold for $57,330 at Auction #120, an Internet auction conducted by Norman C. Heckler & Company that ended on March 18. The bottle was the top lot in an auction that grossed $335,669. “That double eagle flask had it all—color, rarity and condition. It was one of the finest, most rare and desirable flasks we’ve ever sold,” said Norman Heckler. “The selling price came as no surprise.” The pint-sized flask, GII5, had a sheared mouth, pontil scar and light exterior high point wear. The auction attracted 1,391 registered bidders, who placed 957 bids, as nearly all the action was driven through the company website, w w w. h e c k l e r auction.com. A few phone bids were also recorded. All but three of the 94 bottles were sold, as prices generally met
A
or exceeded their pre-sale estimates. There were 18 bottles that sold for $5,000 or more. “I would have to call this
a very successful auction overall,” said Heckler. “The market for collectible bottles, like with many areas of antiques, has its ups and downs; however, The “North BendTippecanoe” historical cabin bottle (GVII-1), probably made by the Mount Vernon Glass Works (Mt. Vernon, N.Y., circa 1840), is one of only a few known. It sold for $25,740.
This prospector and eagle pint historical flask (GXI-15) made by the Arsenal Glass Works (Pittsburgh, Pa., circa 1865-67), colored a bright yellow-green, sold for $8,190.
right now it is generally strong, and I think the prices in this auction bore that out. Collectors aren’t afraid to spend to acquire what they want. Flasks, bitters, black glass seals, all of these did very well.” The following are additional highlights from the auction, which featured a balanced mix of flasks, bitters, black glass, free-blown bottles, inks, medicines, pattern molded examples, whiskeys, sodas, mineral waters and pressed glass. All prices quoted include a 17 percent buyer’s premium. The sale’s runner-up lot was a “North BendTippecanoe” historical cabin bottle, probably made by the Mount Vernon Glass Works (Mt. Vernon, N.Y., circa 1840). The 5.75-inch bottle, one of only a few known (and possibly the only one with a long “stovepipe” neck), featured a log cabin
An early Pittsburgh district double eagle historical flask (GII-5) made between 1820 and 1840 in Pittsburgh, Pa., having a bright yellow green color with olive tone, sold for $57,330.
form, a deep green emerald color, applied round collared mouth and pontil scar. It sold for $25,740. A “G. W. Stone’s (Lowell, Mass.) “Liquid, Cathartic & Family Physic” medicine bottle, made circa 186070 by a Stoddard glasshouse in Stoddard, N.H., rectangular and with no pontil, in fine condition, realized $18,720, and an eaglesunburst historical flask, like the top lot also early Pittsburgh district and made circa 1820-40, colored a medium-bluish aquamarine, sold for $14,040. Still another early Pittsburgh district example, this one a pint historical flask showing an eagle with a snake in its beak, colorless with a vaseline tint, GII-9 and nicknamed the “Snake of Corrup-tion,” brought $11,700, while a prospector and eagle pint historical flask made by the Arsenal Glass Works (Pittsburgh, Pa., circa 1865-67) colored a bright yellow-green, brought $8,190. A “Three Kings” Beads and Pearls pint flask made by Pitikin Glass W o r k s (Manchester, Conn., circa 181530), with a diamond diapering pattern, medium yellowish-olive in color and with a sheared mouth, fetched $9,360, and a cylindrical, bright orange amber “Pure Old Rye” whiskey bottle (Milton J. Hardy, Mfrs., Louisville, Ky., circa 1874-79), realized $6,435. This cylindrical, bright orange amber “Pure Old Rye” whiskey bottle (Milton J. Hardy, Mfrs., Louisville, Ky.), circa 1874-79, sold for $6,435.
Four very different bottles all posted identical selling prices of $7,020. The first was a “Jenny Lind” (and bust) factory portrait Calabash flask and probably made by the Ravenna Glassworks in Ravenna, Ohio (circa 1845-60). The second was a 15 diamond, pattern molded flask, made in America between 1840 and 1860, brilliant ruby red in color and having a flattened bulbous form. The third was a free-blown lily pad milk pan, probably made by the Redwood Glass Works in Redwood, N.Y., (circa 1833-50) cylindrical flaring to the rim, with five Type 1 lily pad decorations and colored a brilliant aquamarine. The fourth was a series of six textile scenes (American, circa 1860-80). Four other lots also posted the same final price of $5,265. One was an early pattern molded flask in the diamond daisy pattern, by Stiegel’s American Flint Glass Manufactory (Manheim, Pa., circa 1763-75) and just recently found. Another was a figural bitters bottle (“The Fish Bitters, W. H. Ware, Patented 1866,” American, circa 1860-80), fish form and with an amethyst tone. The third was an English applied seal wine bottle “W. Daubeny, 1776”) cylindrical and colored a d e e p olive
An eagle-sunburst historical flask (GII-7) like the sale’s top lot also early Pittsburgh district, made circa 1820-40, colored a mediumbluish aquamarine, sold for $14,040.
The “G. W. Stone’s (Lowell, Mass.) “Liquid, Cathartic & Family Physic” medicine bottle, made circa 1860-70, made in Stoddard, This pattern molded flask, 15 dia- N.H., rectangular, with no pontil, mond, made in America between sold for $18,720. 1840 and 1860, brilliant ruby red in color and having a flattened, bulbous Pa.) scroll flask, aquamarine, and form, sold for $7,020. made circa 1845-60.
green, just shy of 9 inches tall, with a large seal just below the shoulder, in superb exterior surface condition. The fourth was a George Washington-Zachary Taylor portrait flask, made by the Dyottville Glass Works (Philadelphia, Pa., circa 1840-60) and medium sapphire blue. Rounding out the auction’s list of top lots were a pair of bottles that each brought $5,850. The first was a George Washington with bust and eagle portrait flask (“J. R. Laird, SC. Pitt”), made by John Robinson’s Sturbridge Flint Glass Works (Pittsburgh, Pa., circa 182040). The second was a Samuel M’Kee & Company (Pittsburgh,
Norman C. Heckler & Company’s next online-only sale (#122) will be online Monday, May 18. It will close on Wednesday, May 27. The company also holds live auctions in their Woodstock Valley, Conn., facility. Norman C. Heckler & Company was founded in 1987 as a full-service auction and appraisal firm. In October of 2010, the firm set a record for an antique glass bottle at auction when a General Jackson eagle portrait flask sold for $176,670. For additional information, call 860-974-1634 or visit www.hecklerauction.com.