Page 41 - BBR magazine 140 - 30yrs issue

more of Dennis’s “slabbers”...
Left: Non of your ‘standard’ slab seals in this grouping. First an 8 ins tall cylinder with a simple, rarely seen, oval seal ‘W&G SHARPE/ GAINSBORO’. Then a diddy 5.5ins tall flattened form, double collar lip, long thin slab ‘J.A.CHRISTIAN’, no place name? Squat champagne form, 9.5ins tall, with circular seal ‘GUINNESS’S EXTRA/ DUBLIN STOUT/ JOHN’ WOOD/ CHESTERFIELD/ SORSBY STREET/ VAULTS’. Small proper champagne shape, 8ins tall, ‘P.J.BENSLEY/ GINGER BEER MANUFACTR/ LOWESTOFT’. These last 2 in July SummerNational sale). Similar shape to
previous, slightly taller, rhombus shaped seal ‘MIDLAND/ B B’, anyone any clues as to what the ‘B B’ stands for?
Above L to R: Smallest - the
ointment ‘A HOWARTH/ VET’Y INSTITUTION/POOL, STREET’, 2.25ins tall. Flat shouldered jar (?) ‘S & H BRIDDON/ MANUFACTURERS’, just 4.1ins tall - the only recorded slab sealed promotional piece ever? Round shouldered squat form, 4.1ins tall, ‘J KNIGHT/ VET’Y SURGEON/ HORNCASTLE.’ Mini boot blacking shape, 4.75ins tall, ‘MILNES/ OILS/ TICKHILL’ (this last in the July SummerNational sale).
Left: A group of flattened rectangular forms slabs, all featuring the atypical style ribbed shoulder sections, and double collar lips. First the giant 13ins tall ‘H&R HILDYARD/ WHOLESALE & RETAIL/ WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANTS/ BRIGG’, hairlined, but the only such size recorded. Smallest, 6ins, vertical slab ‘Mc,, GEORGE & SONS/ WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANTS/ NEWARK ON TRENT’. Next the 7.1ins tall ‘JABEZ.ANDREW/ WOOL.PACK.INN/ WAINFLEET’, we believe the only recorded example? Believed another one only known is this impressive 10.7ins tall ‘G.W.EVANS/ 63 WHITE,FRIARS,GATE/ HULL’.
& there’s glass too...
Reflecting Dennis’s interest and passion for early mineral waters there’s also included in
these new ‘finds’ a trio of fantastic aqua glass hamiltons.
First, the extraordinary very flat lipped ‘D. RUSSELL’S/ GENUINE SUPERIOR/ AERATED WATER.’ Overall very crude glass, lotsa seed bubbles, atypically seriffed early
lettering.
Then the 9.7ins long, deep aqua, heavily embossed ‘STURGEON’S/
PRESERVED MILK’ - my fave of the three. A delightful, chunky, heavy feel
too it, the colour sumptuous for aqua, the ever so different square lip, and
bulb neck, all add up to make it just a very ‘special piece.’ Less than a
handful of these known, and this in stunning A1 condition. Dennis defo’ had very fine taste!
Finally, perhaps the oddest of the three here - the stretched teardrop shaped hammy, featuring a true pontil, and bearing a lovely round collar lip, embossed (heavy/ early serif style)
‘THWAITES/ PATENT.’ Don’t recall ever seeing another?
Each of these is well covered in Dennis’s lifetimes researched treatise ‘Early Aerated
Waters, a chronological survey of evidence for the types of bottles used for artificial
mineral & aerated waters, 1770-1850’. But I don’t wish to divulge any of that until
we’re near to transposing it all its complete with some sensational illustrations).
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Space & time permitting we may be able to display these, & more, in a cabinet @ the SummerNational!