The flask was the top lot in an internet auction that ended on March 18th and grossed $335,669.
WOODSTOCK, Conn. – An 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 March 18th. The bottle was the top lot in an auction that grossed $335,669.
The auction attracted 1,391 registered bidders, who placed 957 bids, as nearly all the action was driven through the company website, www.hecklerauction.com. A few phone bids were also recorded. All but three of the 94 bottles were sold, as prices generally met or exceeded their pre-sale estimates. Fully eighteen bottles were sold for $5,000 or more.
“I would have to call this a very successful auction overall,” Mr. Heckler said. “The market for collectible bottles, like with many areas of antiques, has its ups and downs; however, 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.”
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 Bend – Tippecanoe” historical cabin bottle, probably made by Mount Vernon Glass Works (Mt. Vernon, N.Y., circa 1840). The 5 ¾ inch bottle, one of only a few known (and possibly the only one with a long “stovepipe” neck) featured a log cabin form, a deep green emerald color, applied round collared mouth and pontil scar. It gaveled for $25,740.
A “G. W. Stone’s (Lowell, Mass.) “Liquid, Cathartic & Family Physic” medicine bottle, made circa 1860-1870 by a Stoddard glasshouse in Stoddard, N.H., rectangular and with no pontil, in fine condition, went for $18,720; and an eagle-sunburst historical flask, like the top lot also early Pittsburgh district and made circa 1820-1840, colored a medium-bluish aquamarine, hit $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 Corruption,” rose to $11,700; while a prospector and eagle pint historical flask made by Arsenal Glass Works (Pittsburgh, Pa., circa 1865-1867), colored a bright yellow-green, brought $8,190.
A “Three Kings” Beads and Pearls pint flask made by Pitikin Glass Works (Manchester, Conn., circa 1815-1830), 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 1874-1879), realized $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, probably made by Ravenna Glassworks in Ravenna, Ohio (circa 1845-1860). 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 1833-1850), 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 titled “Ode to the Drunk” (American, circa 1860-1880), with each depicting a stage of alcoholism.
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 1763-1775), just recently found. Another was a figural bitters bottle (“The Fish Bitters, W. H. Ware, Patented 1866,” American, circa 1860-1880), fish form and with an amethyst tone.
The third was an English applied seal wine bottle “W. Daubeny, 1776”), cylindrical and colored a deep olive 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 Dyottville Glass Works (Philadelphia, Pa., circa 1840-1860), medium sapphire blue.
Rounding out the auction’s list of top lots was 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 1820-1840). The second was a Samuel M’Kee & Company (Pittsburgh, Pa.) scroll flask, aquamarine, circa 1845-1860.
Norman C. Heckler & Company’s next auction (#121) will be a live event, held on Friday, April 24th at the firm’s barn auction venue at 79 Bradford Corner Road in Woodstock Valley, Conn. (zip: 06282). Pictures and descriptions will be posted on the website about a week prior to sale. Then, an internet auction (#122), will be up and online on May 18th and will close on May 27th.
Norman C. Heckler & Company was founded in 1987 as a full-service auction and appraisal firm. Today it is the foremost auction house in the U.S. for antique glass. In Oct. 2010, the firm set a record for an antique glass bottle at auction when a General Jackson eagle portrait flask went for $176,670. In addition to bottles and glass, the firm also offers early American antiques.
Norman C. Heckler & Company is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To inquire about consigning a single piece or an entire collection, you may call them at (860) 974-1634 or e-mail them at [email protected]. To learn more about Norman C. Heckler & Company and the upcoming auctions #121 and #122, please visit www.hecklerauction.com