(WOODSTOCK, Conn.) – What could well be one of Norman C. Heckler & Company’s most important absentee sales ever held will open for bidding on Monday, Nov. 4th at 9 a.m. (EST) and end Wednesday, Nov. 13th at 10 p.m. Offered will be 152 lots of early glass, historical flasks, fancy colognes, hat whimsies, bitters, medicines, inks, a fruit jar, black glass and more.

It’s Auction #106 and Norman C. Heckler & Company is billing it as “a premier absentee auction of early glass, bottles, flasks and more.” Company president Norman C. Heckler called the selection of bottles “unbelievable,” adding, “It’s a very diversified sale, with great examples from virtually every category of bottle collecting. The quality is equal to any we’ve ever sold.”

Mr. Heckler said, “We are pleased to be presenting a diverse group of exciting objects from several important collections. It took two years to put this auction together, and we anticipate a knockout event.” A full posting of all the lots will be up soon at www.hecklerauction.com. Color catalogs will be available soon, too.

Two lots expected to attract keen bidder interest are a Cornucopia-Pinwheel American figured flask, half pint, made circa 1820-1840, probably in the Midwest, and unique in its deep blood red color (est. $25,000-$50,000); and a pale citron striated Baltimore And Monument – “Corn For The World” quart historical flask manufactured by the Baltimore Glass Works, made circa 1840-1860 (est. $5,000-$10,000).

From the American blown tableware category is a rare freeblown pitcher, probably made by the Willington (Conn.) Glass Works 1815-1850, having a large bulbous body with applied glass handle, 6 5/8 inches tall (est. $10,000-$20,000); and a freeblown vase probably made in southern New Jersey 1820-1850, in a bright crisp bluish aquamarine (est. $6,000-$12,000).

The only fruit jar in the auction is a cylindrical, deep cobalt blue example (the only known one in this color), embossed “Patented Oct. 19, 1858” (on the lid top), made in America sometime between 1858 and 1880 (est. $5,000-$10,000). Also, a blown three mold inkwell, probably made by Mt. Vernon (N.Y.) Glass Works circa 1820-1840 in a sapphire blue, should hit $4,000-$8,000.

Bottles in a variety of forms will be offered. These will feature a “Welden Spring, St. Albans, Vt.” - “Alterative / Chalybeate” quart mineral water bottle, made circa 1860-1880 in a deep reddish amber color, cylindrical in shape (est. $4,000-$8,000); and an “A. M. Bininger & Co.” figural whiskey bottle in the form of a vase, yellow amber, circa 1860-1870 (est. $1,000-$2,000).

Premier cologne bottles from the Ralph Finch Collection will include a brilliant yellow green paneled bottle, probably made by Boston & Sandwich (Mass.) Glass Works, circa 1840-1860, in tall tapered 12-sided form (est. $800-$1,600); and a figural example in square monument form, probably by the same maker, circa 1860-1888 (est. $1,200-$2,400).

A pair of American historical flasks bound to command attention are a Sheaf Of Grain historical quart calabash flask made circa 1845-1860 by Baltimore Glass Works, in a rare cobalt blue (est. $10,000-$20,000); and a Jenny Lind “Glass Works / S. Huffsey” historical quart calabash flask, bluish green, made circa 1850-1860 by Isabella Glass Works of Brooklyn, N.J. (est. $1,500-$3,000).

Early American figured flasks will feature an Eagle-Cornucopia flask, probably from the early Pittsburgh (Pa.) district, made circa1820-1840, in an outstanding medium sapphire blue color (est. $8,000-$16,000); and a rare Isabella Glass Works flask (Brooklyn, N.J.), in a beautiful blue green color, made between 1840 and 1860 (est. $5,000-$10,000).

A pair of hat whimsies bound to get attention are a blown three mold glass hat whimsey made circa 1820-1840 by the Keene (N.H.) Marlboro Street Glassworks, cylindrical form, medium yellow olive in color (est. $5,000-$10,000); and a freeblown hat whimsey on a stem most likely made by Coventry (Conn.) Glass Works, circa 1813-1848, medium yellow olive (est. $2,000-$4,000).

Collectors of rare American medicine bottles will be delighted by a “Pike & Osgood / Boston, Mass.” - “Alterative Syrup” medicine bottle, manufactured by a Stoddard glasshouse (N.H.), circa 1840-1860, olive amber (est. $6,000-$12,000); and a “Dr. Stephen Jewett’s / Celebrated Health / Restoring Bitters” bottle, also from Stoddard and made circa 1840-1860 (est. $2,500-$5,000).

Last, but certainly not least, a sampling of two half-pint flasks from the Carl Sturm collection:a “Not For Joe” pictorial flask with a girl on a bicycle, made in America circa 1860-1870 and the only known example in this size, amber (est. $3,000-$6,000); and an eagle flask made by Louisville (Ky.) Glass Works, circa 1860-1865, yellow olive (est. 2,000-$4,000).

Previews will be held from Oct. 15-Nov. 12 at Norman C. Heckler & Company’s gallery facility, located at 79 Bradford Corner Road in Woodstock Valley, Conn. There, bidders will be able to inspect the bottles being offered, during regular business hours of 9-4, Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment, please call (860) 974-1634.

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 U.S. for antique glass. In Oct. 2010, the firm set a record for an antique glass bottle at auction when a General Jackson eagle portrait flask went for $176,670. In addition to glass, the firm also offers early American antique items.

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 upcoming Auction #106 slated for Nov. 4th-13th, please visit www.hecklerauction.com.

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