Candlish Bottle Works, East Durham U.K.

I keep an eye out for bottle related vintage postcards, and so this one came into view. Not a particularly attractive image, and not even a U.S. glassworks, but it intrigued me nonetheless.

Thanks to the internet, research this Bottle Works was a snap. I found all I needed to know on the EAST DURHAM SEAHAM BOTTLE WORKS website. Convenient, no?

The factory was actually called Candlish Bottle Works, and the town of East Durham grew up around it. John Candlish opened his bottleworks in 1853 and absorbed the nearby Fenwick's Bottleworks in 1856. When he died in 1874 his factory consisted of seven bottlehouses. The Candlish Bottleworks (1853 - 1921 ) demolished by 1950.

Here are a few pix. You can see more pix on their website.

During demolition.

During better days.

A wonderful parade display.

Bottles in the sample room.

Update from a reader, re the location:

The Rabbit in the MoonAugust 19, 2013 at 1:45 AM

The town where Candlish Bottle Works was located is Seaham, Co. Durham. It is an ancient town with an Anglo Saxon church dating from the 7th century just a half mile north of where the bottle works was located. It wasn't till the 19th century that the first coal shaft was sunk which brought industrialization and the therefore a convenient source of fuel for the bottle works to thrive. East Durham is a name to identify a geographical region of County Durham.

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Connecticut Artist David Schorr's Paintings of Apothecary #Bottles #Antiques

 

 

Wouldn't you love to see more of these paintings of antique bottles with creative labels? A bottle of Old Flames; Essence of Lazy Afternoons; Elixir of Secret Confessions. If you're near Wesleyan U. in CT, go check out this exhibit.

From their website:

Schorr to Exhibit Apothecary Bottle Paintings at Davison Art Center

Jan. 23, 2012 by David Low

Old Flames - Handle with Care (2010) by David Schorr.

The most recent work by Professor of Art David Schorr will be shown in February and March 2012 in the exhibition APOTHECARY (storehouse) at Davison Art Center. The show features more than 75 paintings of antique apothecary bottles that have been meticulously executed by Schorr in gouache and silverpoint on luxurious, colored Fabriano Roma papers.
A 160-page full-color catalog accompanies the exhibition.
The bottles in these paintings float curiously in space, a mysterious, bright light glistening on their curves and bevels, sometimes shimmering through but not revealing their contents. Some of the objects seem empty. The bottles are meant to contain not chemicals and unguents but stuff such as Bad Intentions, Furtive Glances, Old Flames, Lazy Afternoons, Sweet Love Remembered and Sleepless Nights. Just as their original models bear labels in Latin or pharmaceutical terms only partially understood, these painted labels are often in foreign languages: French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Yiddish and others.

Deep Dark Secrets (2010).

The English labels often have poetic sources. Two are labeled Rough Magic and Present Mirth. In an insightful essay by Professor of English Emerita Phyllis Rose in the accompanying catalog, she identifies Shakespeare's The Tempest and Twelfth Night as the sources of these two phrases, while she explains Schorr's concept and process with startling clarity. Other words on the labels remain obscure, tantalizing and teasing the viewer.
In the exhibition catalog, Professor Schorr offers the following statement about the works: "For a problem that had been plaguing me, a wise ophthalmologist suggested I try artificial tears. In gratitude I made him a drawing of an apothecary bottle I had salvaged from my father's medical office, changing the Latin of the original label to the Latin for 'artificial tears.' I became interested in drawing more of these bottles and started to collect them on eBay. Because I had long wanted a place to put away cherished values or to hide shameful thoughts, I discovered to my delight that the Greek word ΑΠΟΘΗΚΗ, from which our word 'apothecary' derives, means storehouse. This project followed."

Lazy Afternoon (2011).

Regarding the installation at Wesleyan, Schorr also says that the hundreds of Wesleyan alumni who took his Drawing I class will remember a homework assignment involving cylindrical bottles or cans and their labels. The exhibition will continue on to the Mary Ryan Gallery in New York City in the spring.

Collecting #Antiques #Bottles Made Easy by Collectors Weekly

Collector's Weekly, the informative reference and ebay listings-tracker site has a super BOTTLES section, with articles and resource links, and best of all, it's a one-stop place to see the MOST WATCHED bottles on ebay, so you don't miss any. They also give you the recent CLOSED prices. All on one page, w/thumbnail pix, and links to the items. It will save you hours of ebay surfing. And it's FREE! Here's the link CW BOTTLES Overview . It's a great site. Be sure to bookmark it, and check out all of their bottle collecting categories - milks, jars, bitters, and so many more.

Screen shot pix:

Exhibit of Breweriana, Whiskey, #Bottles at Wisconsin #Antiques Show

Just in from the Antique Trader's blog -- 

Antique saloon exhibit appearing at Wisconsin Antiques Dealers Association show

A special educational feature at the Feb. 3-5 show is an 1890s Milwaukee saloon exhibition of a Milwaukee-area collection.

Info on the show's website: http://www.wisconsinantiquesdealers.com/discount_coupon

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And for antique saloon lovers - check out the Occidental Saloon in Wyoming -- http://www.occidentalwyoming.com/saloon.html

The Occidental Saloon

In the rip-roaring days of early Wyoming, the saloon at the Occidental Hotel was famous far and wide.  In the barroom, the lawful and the lawless played faro and poker ... flirted with pretty ladies ... drank copious quantities of powerful spirits ... and occasionally shot up the place. One visitor in the early days called the Occidental Saloon "a regular gambling hell," where high-stakes poker games sometimes continued for days.

The Occidental Saloon is a SMOKE-FREE Establishment.

1908                                                                            Today   In 1908, the original rough barroom was replaced with one of the most elegant saloons in Wyoming.  An imposing back bar with stained glass accents was installed, along with an intricately embossed tin ceiling, and impressive period decorations everywhere.  All of this has been preserved and restored, for you to admire today as you enjoy a soda pop ...     or something stronger. When you sidle up to the 25-foot bar, you will be standing in the exact spot where cowboys, sheriffs, desperados and cattle barons gathered.  You may almost hear them arguing and making deals.  In your imagination, you might even hear shots ring out - and if you look around you and up at the ceiling, you can still count 23 original bullet holes!

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A little of this, a little of that -- you never know what you'll find on the FinBotClub's blog! Y'all come back now!

Attn. Bottle Clubs: Share Videos of Your Meetings Online #antiques #bottles

Baltimore Bottle Club's video clip of their meeting - great idea! Something all of us bottle clubs should be doing (Now why didn't I think of it?!)





See more of their bottle videos here: BaltimoreBottleClub's Channel - YouTube

Here's the Findlay Club Videos on our YOU TUBE Channel


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Findlay Antique Bottle Club -- Website - Facebook - Twitter

Muncie Fruit Jar Show - Another Voice Heard

Read Joe Coulson's January 2012 Muncie Fruit Jar Show Report for another view of that JAR-TASTIC event!
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Findlay Antique Bottle Club -- Website - Facebook - Twitter

Bottle Collecting in the News: BBR Auction Owner Writes Ink Well Book #antiques #bottles

Pictured is Alan Blakman who specialises in selling bootle at BBR Auctions,Elsecar Heritage Centre

IT was while on a teenage date that Alan Blakeman discovered something which has been a pleasure and obsession ever since.

It was an antique bottle.

"We were walking around this lake, all romantic," says the 62-year-old. "I saw this piece of half-buried glass and, for some reason, I dug it up.
"It was a broken bottle neck with a marble in. I'd never seen anything like it but when I took it home my dad said it was an old pop bottle – the marble was to attract children. I thought it was so beautiful I immediately wanted to find an undamaged one. I was so hooked, the next day I went to the town dump with my spade."

Today, Alan has dozens of such 'codd bottles' and, as one of the world's foremost experts on glassware and pottery, has bought and sold thousands more.

His business BBR (British Bottle Review) Auctions – based in Elsecar Heritage Centre near Barnsley – is one of the UK's leading auction houses for antique bottles, pots, ink wells, clay pipes and medicine jars.

And this year Alan will cement his reputation by releasing his 12th – and far most ambitious – book on the subject: the somewhat specialist A World Encyclopedia Of Ink Wells.

Read the rest of the interview here: http://www.thestar.co.uk/community/the-diary/one_man_bottle_bank_1_4146478

He sure looks happy with his antique bottles, doesn't he?!

In the News: Lebanon PA Milk Bottle Collecting #Bottles #Antiques

John Eisenhauer holds one of the more unusual items in his milk bottle collection, a 10-quart bottle from a Philadelphia-area dairy. (Les Stewart / Lebanon Daily News)

Lebanon PA - milk bottle collector profiled - read the interview here: http://www.ldnews.com/lebanonnews/ci_19748894

 

John Eisenhauer s collection includes unusual milk bottles, such as the cream-top bottle, center, from the C.E. Grimes Dairy in Fredericksburg, and memorabilia like the toy Wengert s Dairy truck. (Les Stewart / Lebanon Daily News)

More Muncie January 2012 Pix - Bruce Schank's Display of Colorful BALL Fruit Jars

Bruce Schank writes:

"I also did a jar display at the Sunday Show appropriately titled "Jar Bling." It was a Smash Hit with everyone and I came away with the Dealers Choice Award and Peoples Choice Ribbon. Many Thanks to all those who voted for me and I'm very appreciative of those Awards. I did my best to show what is really out there in the world of colored Ball jars.

"This photo was taken with my cell phone. The 6th jar from the left (qt, olive-amber 234) was the score at Muncie and incredibly the the solid pour to the left of Black Bart was the incredible trade item that came my way!

"Just so everyone understands what they are in fact looking at; the 1st (5) five pint jars on the left in the photo are 4 Liners. Ball Improved MasonsPatent 1858. The left most solid pour is also a 4 Liner. All of the other jars and the right most solid pour are all 234's."



Bruce also sent in this nostalgic photo of him at his sales table at the at the Oakland NJ bottle show on 11/8/87. 

"All I can say is, man I actually had hair once :) By the way, I was President of the north Jersey antique bottle collectors association at that time."

80 Salesman's Sample Ball Fruit Jars in Custom Display Case

Thanks to Marilyn Miller for sharing this auction with us at Muncie (Jan. 2012). It really got us going, taking bets on what the hammer price would be, and discussing auction psychology. John Raver was lowest @ $80, and Phil Smith came closest with a $1500 guess. The majority of us figured in the $400-500 range.

Best guess is this was a custom-made display case, as the story goes that when the seller acquired the jars, they were filled with seeds (?). So -- could have been used for a seed salesman, or a science class/4H project display, or ______? The seller had to remove the wood slats that keep the little jars in place to empty and clean all 80 jars. 

Our man-on-the-spot John Bartley was there at the auction (which was in West Liberty, Ohio), and reports that the case sold to "family", hence the $3,000 price. Did the family member have a piece of the pie? Who knows. But at least it is unlikely that these 80 jars will hit the open market. That said, I'd suggest selling yours now just in case.

2012 January Muncie Fruit Jar Show Photo Album

WOW -- Another JAR~TASTIC event! We had the best weather, and the best jars, and the best group of people! If you weren't there, we missed you!

A huge THANK YOU shout-out goes to The Signature Inn's Manager, Jeff Bryan, who made us feel even more welcomed and catered to than ever before -- he rocks! From the WELCOME banner to plenty of complimentary coffee and sodas in the upstairs jar/hospitality room to donating Signature Inn jars to the auction to a new special heavy-duty cart... well done, Jeff! And thank-you to all of your friendly hard-working staff!

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<>Here's a bunch of snapshots I took at the hotel to try to give you an idea of what ROOM HOPPING is like. Most of the shots are over-exposed since we had amazing gorgeous SUNNY weather, and everyone had their curtains wide open to let in that natural light. I was shooting from the hall doorways into the brightly lit rooms to show you how everyone is able to relax and visit and still have room to set up lots of jars for selling, trading, displaying. Room hopping is a unique experience, where you actually have time to get to know your fellow collectors. If the door's open, just walk on in!

I didn't get pix of everyone -- we had approx. 60 rooms, and at least 100 attendees. If I missed you, or forget a name, please forgive me. Click the pix to enlarge.

The ageless Junne Barnett.

Bill Burgess and Bob DuLong

Mike Jordan (here's his ATLAS jars show display - http://www.fruitjar.org/Exhbts112/d6.html)

 

Sometimes jar go-withs can be very interesting. Here's a 1974 towel with a colorful antique ad printed on it.

Dave Eiffler and Don Burkett

Dan Corker and Bo Trimble

Jon and Joy Vander Schouw had a lot of jars in their room.

Jon Black

Gary Moore had jars, including a couple things that tempted me: a Warner's wood box, and a Royal Peanutene sample jar.  

Ron Ashby and Dick Watson

(l-r) Carla Franks, Jeff Harper, Tom Sproat, Richard Franks -- the Franks had a ton of Ball jar go-withs.

Here's the Midwest Fruit Jar Club's president and show chairman, Dave Rittenhouse.

Jonah Mertz manning the room while Dad (Steve) was out shopping.

John Patterson of Spencer, NC - sorry, John, that it took me so long to add your name here.

As you can tell, the rooms are plenty comfy and spacious, with little fridges and microwaves, and big tvs. Pretty sweet way to sell jars, eh?! Room-hopping, visiting and shopping went on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Super weather kept everyone in good spirits, and allowed us to walk out to the local food joints for dinner. Then back for the ''floating cocktail party''.

We had the upstairs hospitality room, too, where Jerry McCann camped out to schmooze and visit with everyone. He worked hard helping to sell jars for Greg Spurgeon who had his ''Bargain Cave'' jars up there. And Jerry is selling his new book, the updated, expanded and improved Dick Roller Standard Fruit Jar Reference (available here).

Dick Bere, Angela Spurgeon, Jerry McCann

Jerry w/ Margaret Shaw, of the JELLY JAMMERS club (new website: http://www.jellyjammers.com/. The JJ's held their club meeting Saturday morning. Then the Midwest club served a lovely complimentary lunch. There was a long line of happy hungry folks!

(top l-r) Jeff Harper, Russ and Heidi Crupe, Mike Rutledge

(bottom) Mary and Jeff Harper; Pete Peterson

After lunch it was time for the Midwest Club's meeting. Everyone's invited, and the room was packed. We even had an overflow gallery. Everyone introduced themselves, and some shared treasures they had found since last time, and introduced their items into the auction line-up. The fun auction immediately followed the meeting. Then there was lots more visiting, room hopping, dinner groups, until bedtime. Then up early on Sunday morning and off to the show.

Meeting pix:

(l-r) Phil Smith, Dick Bere, Dick Cole, Dave Rittenhouse

Dick Cole told the story of the Penley Product Line of jars that never reached market.

See his show display here - http://www.fruitjar.org/Exhbts112/d8.html

 

Gary Moore showing a midget pint (from his Sunday show display - pix here ).

Mason Bright

Greg Spurgeon

Chuck Erb

Tom Canniff

Jeff Harper showed an unusual Olympic Mascot jar from his show display of Special Run Ball Jars from El Monte in California.- pix here: http://www.fruitjar.org/Exhbts112/d5.html

 

Steve Mertz showing his heart-breaking shard of an unknown-in-amber DALBEY'S.

Russ and Heidi Crupe with their massively heavy printing stone with a vintage Ball jars advertisement.

Tom Sproat sharing a very old jar, along with some very new "Kentucky Stemware" that his students made to put in the auction to fund their science programs for young children.

Jeff Klingler shows his Joel Haines embossing variation that was only one known until his turned up.

Bill Burgess

Phil Smith and Bruce Schank

Bruce Schank's show display included a print of his JAR BLING poem, which he wrote and recited at the Saturday meeting. Display pix here: http://www.fruitjar.org/Exhbts112/d1.html 

That's all the pix I snapped. It was such a whirlwind of activity, I know I barely covered it. If anyone wants to email their pix to me, I will gladly post them -- finbotclub@gmail.com

Tom and Jean Harbron shared their photos on the Midwest Club's website:

• People shopping at the Sunday show: http://www.fruitjar.org/Exhbts112/
• People @ the Saturday Show'n'Tell session: http://www.fruitjar.org/Exhbts112/fj.html
• Bruce Schank and Tom Sproats award-winning displays @ the Sunday show -- Congrats, guys! http://www.fruitjar.org/Exhbts112/fj.html
• Slide show of all the displays: http://www.fruitjar.org/Exhbts112/d1.html

Thanks again to the Midwest Club for organizing another fun jar event. Check out their website here: http://www.fruitjar.org/

Stay tuned for more Muncie Show talk over on the Ball Jar Collector's website: http://balljarcollectorscommunitycenter.yuku.com/topic/4205/2012-Muncie-January-Show

Read my 2011 January Muncie show report - http://finbotclub.blogspot.com/2011/01/jar-tastic-jars-uary-jar-show-winter.html

GET READY FOR THE JULY 2012 JAR-B-Q!!!!

The Summer Muncie Fruit Jar event is going to be so much fun. 4 solid days of room hopping and activities -- talks, theme groups, partying, and yummy BBQ cooked up by our favorite chef, Bob Rhineberger. Mark your calendars now - Thursday July 12 thru Saturday July 14, 2012. Or. if you're really a hardcore jar-nut like some folks I know, come on Wednesday and stay thru Sunday!

For your JULY HOTEL ROOMS at the bargain SHOW RATE, contact Mgr. Jeff Bryan @ Signature Inn -- 765-284-4200  -- 3400 N Chadam Ln Muncie IN (hotel website)

For more info about the summer JAR-B-Q, contact:

• Jerry McCann -- fjar@aol.com -- 773-777-0443
• Marianne Dow -- finbotclub@gmail.com -- 419-455-1112

I'll post more details about the Summer Jar-B-Q soon. We're looking for volunteers to give a talk or moderate a group or play bartender -- anyone interested?
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Findlay Antique Bottle Club -- Website - Facebook - Twitter