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Whimsey with Letters
Date Added: 06 March 2007
The is a very unusual and interesting bottle with whimsey carvings filling the length of the bottle. The base is made from square lengths of wood joined with a lap joint and forming a "+" the extends to the sides of the bottle. Coming from center of the base is an approximate 3" x 1 5/8" dowel. On the top of this dowel is are 4 arms carved like yarn winders but instead of wrapped with thread, these have 3 colorful plastic birds and one bell shaped item suspended from thin wire. One of the birds has become unattached but is in the bottle. Coming form the center of these winders is another dowel of similar shape and size. On top of this dowel is another 4 armed yarn winder in a different style. On the end of each of the arms are letters of the alphabet. The letters are made from thin carved wood and the letters are "B," "M," "H," and another letter that looks like another "H" but is detached in the bottom of the bottle. The significance of these letters is unclear but could perhaps be the initials of the maker and/or person or persons it was made for. Coming from the center of these winders is a 1 1/2: wooden ball and cage carving without the ball in the center. On top of this piece is a third yarn winder with 4 arms. Suspended with thin wire from each of these arms are 4 identical wooden ball and cage carvings also without the center ball, but with a carved ball attached to the bottom of each cage. There are two identical wooden ladders in the bottle on opposite sides from each other. Each ladder has 6 rungs and leans into the center against the center yarn winders. The bottle has a long wooden dowel that extends from near the opening of the bottle to the yarn winder on top holding everything securely in the bottle. This dowel is secured with a cork that seals the entire bottle. The bottle is identified as a Ball bottle on the bottom and has a "One Quart" and "Federal Law Forbids Sale or Re-use of This Bottle" on opposite sides of the top below the neck. This dates the bottle from 1933 through 1964. This bottle is probably 1933 - 1940.
Type: Carved Whimsey   Maker's Name:
Category: Whimsey   Made Where: United States
Bottle Size: 10 3/4" x 3 1/2"   Year Made: 1930's - 1940's
Bottle Type: Ball One Quart