Bitters Rule In Glass Works 'The Best Of 2005' Auction

EAST GREENVILLE, PENN.

:The Glass Works' auction, "The Best of 2005," lived up to its name, as the 817 lots sold for a total of $594,290. A total of 109 lots, slightly more than 13 percent, broke the $1,000 barrier. Only 47 lots did not receive the company's minimum bid. "One of the better sales we've had in recent years," said Jim Hagenbuch, principal of Glass Works, "both by the amount of participation and bidding strength."

The top money grabber of the auction was a deep cobalt-blue calabash flask with a bust of George Washington on one side and a tree on the other. This sold to a West Coast collector for $24,640. "This flask is usually seen in aqua, selling for around $200," explained Hagenbuch. "I've only seen one other sell at auction in this color, and that was years ago when Norm Heckler sold the Bill Pollard collection."

Among the 198 flasks in the auction was a grouping of 12 embossed tree flasks in unusual colors. Of this grouping, a quart size example in cobalt blue sold for $17,920.

Bitters bottles have always been popular among bottle collectors. This auction had 67 bitters bottles selling for a total of $138,790 (an average of $2,071 per bottle). An embossed "C.C. Seely's Strengthening Stomach Bitters, Pittsburgh, Penn.," commanded the highest price at $15,680.

The next highest priced bitters was an embossed "The Fish Bitters" in a very attractive, rare yellow-green color selling for $14,560. Another bitters that did well was a "Brown's Herb Bitters, Phila." in a very rare yellow-green, $11,200.

Two original "E.G. Booz's Old Cabin Whiskey" cottage bottles were in the auction. The rarer of the two, a straight corner example, sold for $7,840.

A small grouping of Vermont spring water bottles dominated an even larger group of this type bottle. The shining bottle in this group was a very rare bottle embossed "Central Spring Green & Co. Sheldon, Vt.," selling for $8,400.

All prices reported include 12 percent buyer's premium. For information, 215-679-5849 or email glswrk@enter.net.