Double eagle historical flask soars to $53,820 at Heckler auction, May 16-30 A rare double eagle historical flask, made in Pittsburgh circa 1820-40 and with a deep yellow olive color, sold for $53,820 in an Internet and catalog auction held May 16-30 by Norman C. Heckler & Co.
by the Rhode Island businessman he sold it to. The small, globular, half-size bottle, with a long neck, sheared mouth with string rim and yellowish olive green color, was rare in color and form.
A P. & U.S. Spring Co. (Saratoga, N.Y.) mineral water bottle, consigned by a construction worker who found it while part of the excavation team at the 'Big Dig' (the name given to the re-routing of Interstate 93 and airport traffic underground in Boston), breezed to $4,680. The emerald green bottle, in fine condition and in a very rare size, was expected to achieve $2,500-$5,000, which it made easily.
Following are additional highlights of the auction. All prices quoted include a 17 percent buyer's premium.
A big, beautiful, early and extremely rare B. F. & Co./N.Y. applied seal pattern molded whiskey jug, probably made in Midwest America circa 1840-1860, hammered for $5,265. The golden amber jug had an inverted conical form with applied handle and seal applied to the lower handle attachment. It also had an applied double collared mouth with spout and pontil scar. The bottle stood 9 ½ inches tall.
A D. (Five Dots) Brechva sealed wine bottle from England, made circa 1774, cylindrical in shape with an applied seal at the mid-body and colored a medium to deep yellow olive, changed hands for $1,989. The bottle, in exceptional condition and with a strongly embossed seal, had a sheared mouth with string rim and pontil scar. It stood 9 inches tall and was 4 ½ inches in diameter at the base.
A pressed lamp, possibly made by the Boston and Sandwich Glass Works (Sandwich, Mass., circa 1850-1880), topped out at $1,404. This cobalt blue example was of single-piece construction, with a circle and ellipse pattern and a simple hexagonal stepped base. Its strong selling points were its beautiful color and fine condition. The only flaws were typical very minor flakes at the lamp's base.
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 United States for antique glass. In October 2010, the firm set a record for an antique glass bottle at auction when a General Jackson eagle portrait flask sold for $176,670. In addition to glass Norman C. Heckler & Co. also offers early American antique objects.
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, you can e-mail them at info@hecklerauction.com. To learn more about the company’s upcoming calendar of auction events, please go to www.hecklerauction.com. Updates are posted frequently.
