Date: Fri 05-Feb-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: SHIRLE

Quick Words:

Cassin's-Pacific-Glass

Full Text:

Cassin's Bitters Bottle

(with cut)

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. -- On December 14, 1998, in auction number 18, Pacific

Glass sold the Cassin's Grape Brandy Bitters for $44,000, including premium.

The Cassin's bitters, ten inches tall (est $20/30,000), with applied top and

smooth base, comes in two variants. It is thought that the first variant was

made from 1866-70, while the second variant was made from 1871-75; the example

sold is believed to be of the latter category.

The example features the apostrophe in "Cassin's" in the wrong spot; the mold

maker put it in as a comma instead. According to the auction house and its

sale catalogue, there is a little confusion about exactly which variant is the

oldest, and it is not known why the maker would replace the mold and make an

error with the apostrophe. It is a fact, however, that the more indented

panels made for a greater chance of breakage.

Francis Cassin had a small store in San Francisco in 1851. Eventually his

brother, Paul, joined him, and together they ran a vineyard making wine and

brandy. In 1866 they formed the F & P.M. Cassins Wholesale Liquor Company.

By 1880, Patrick brought controlling interests from his brother, Francis, who

went back to growing grapes. Patrick went on to become a well-known San

Francisco citizen. He died in 1894.

The Cassin bottles are considered one of the top bitters made. Despite the

number of years the two variants were produced, there are not more than a

dozen or so examples known. Apparently the construction of the bottle did not

warrant its survival over the years. In fact, as mentioned earlier, the first

variant's mold change was probably due to the thin glass on the edges that

formed from a deep inset panel.

The Cassin's bitters come in colors ranging from aqua to black, with deep

green being the most prevalent. Besides black, amber and aqua are the rarest

colorations.

The bottle sold was found about a year ago in a trash pit outside a shack

believed to have been originally occupied by Chinese gold miners near Boise,

Idaho. It was discovered next to a Lilienthal coffin flask, also presented in

the sale, and was about 18 inches deep, lying upside down in a bed of pine

needles.

The bottle has a large, "drippy" top and its surface is very crude and

whittled. It is a medium golden amber and, aside from the smallest of flakes

off the very side of the lip and a couple of onion skin-type bubbles, it is

about perfect.

The last Cassin's offered for sale was from the Elmer Smith collection in

1993.

For information, 916/443-3296.