Foreign Bottles in America by Eric McGuire
Next Zoom Seminar 13 June 2023 7:00 pm CST.
RSVP to get an invitation at FOHBCseminars@gmail.com.
Many collectors are unaware that an unknown but substantial number of our bottles were produced beyond our shores. Several examples have come to light challenging the conventional wisdom that our bottles, both early and late, were produced in this country. The earliest printed sources go back to 1975 when Margaret Ellison wrote an article in Archaeologia Aeliana, the Journal of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle (England). The extensive article proved that at least some “Eagle” flasks were made in Newcastle for the American market at least as early as 1812. This was lightly touched upon in the book American Bottles and Flasks by McKearin & Wilson. The original information was gleaned from a few glasshouse and mold makers’ journals that have survived. It is postulated and likely true that far more “American” bottles were produced in England for the American market.
Another example of early flasks originating from England is a salvaged shipwreck from Newcastle, England, bound for Baltimore, Maryland. The ship Caesar ended up on the reefs of Bermuda in May 1818. The ship was salvaged shortly after it was wrecked. Among the salvage were a large number of Masonic flasks, which were commonly found in old collections on the island. The ship was “re-salvaged” in 1957, which led to the discovery of more, at least broken, Masonic flasks. This solved the mystery of why so many Masonic flasks had earlier been found in Barbados.
Yet another find from archives residing in England was the discovery of two receipts for large orders of bottles from the Ricketts glasshouse for Swaim’s Panacea. One is dated July 1834, for 1,280 dozen, and one is dated April 1842, for about 123 gross. An article on the subject was presented in The Journal of Glass Studies, Vol. 55, 2013. One can’t help but wonder how many “American” bottles were actually blown in England, France and Germany.
Eric McGuire,
FOHBC Western Region Director,
West Coast VM Imager,
Petaluma, California
If you could not make it, see the presentation here and use Passcode: *5PpIbAk
The NEW FOHBC Online Seminar Series Kicks Off with a Blast!
On the evening of May 9, 2023, the FOHBC held its first online monthly 1-hour online Zoom seminar. Veteran digger and AB&GC writer Jeff Mihalik presented “Three-State Digging Part 1, I Have The Wheeling Feeling.” FOHBC president Michael Seeliger hosted the event and introduced Jeff who had a 40 minute presentation prepared focusing on digs, finds and the local history and characters living in Wheeling, West Virginia. This was followed by about 15 minutes of questions and answers. Part 2 will occur in October this year and will focus on other digs in the tri-state area.
Seminars occur on Tuesday evenings during the first or second week of each month at 7:00 pm CST. Seminars are recorded and available in the FOHBC Members Portal. Seminars are FREE for FOHBC Members and $15 for non-members. Sign up as a member prior to the seminar and attend free. All attendees will receive a Zoom invitation and will attend via desktop, laptop, tablet, or smart phone if they prefer. Attend them all or a-la-carte.
RSVP to get an invitation at FOHBCseminars@gmail.com.
You will receive a Zoom email invitation with a link for each event. Simply join at the noted time, sit back, relax and enjoy some great antique bottle and glass seminars and discussion.
Seminars will occur on Tuesday evenings during the first or second week of each month at 7:00 pm CST. Time will be left for questions and answers. Seminars will be recorded and be available in the FOHBC Members Portal. Seminars FREE for FOHBC Members and $15 for non-members. Sign up as a member prior to the seminar and attend free. All attendees will receive a Zoom invitation and will attend via desktop, laptop, tablet, or smart phone if they prefer. Attend them all or a-la-carte. RSVP to get an invitation
You will receive a Zoom email invitation with a link for each event. Simply join at the noted time, sit back, relax and enjoy some great antique bottle & glass seminarsand discussion.
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