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Fan Art in a Bottle
Date Added: 01 October 2005
This is an amazing bottle made by Adam Selick from the Pittsburg, PA area. The bottle is dated "Mar 1895" on one side of a tamper proof crossbar in the wooden shaft sealing the bottle. In addition to the date there is written a notation: "No. 7," perhaps the 7th bottle by this individual or a 7th in a series or of a style or type. On the other side of the cross piece is the name "E L. ANTHONY,” possibly the name of the person the bottle was made for or who the bottle was being dedicated to by Adam Selick. There was an E.L. Anthony who lived about 15 miles from Zelienople, PA, just north of Pittsburg who was a civil war veteran and later a farmer, who continued to fight for the rights of Civil War soldiers to receive a pension fund. He may be the same Edward L. Anthony who served as a private in the Civil War in the 167th Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry (Drafted Militia). Inside the bottle are 6 wooden fans. Some of the fans have dots drawn on the top of the fan blades. The base in the bottle is made like a "plus symbol" in blue and yellow color. On 2 ends are wooden fans opposite each other. On the other side is a small cross piece painted pink with 2 tall narrow pink crosses on it. The other side has a geometrically carved wooden pedestal in green, blue, yellow and pink. Rising from the base near the middle are 2 columns wrapped or painted in silver. On top of these columns is a yellow with blue accents painted wooden cross piece in a canoe shape with 2 more fans, one on each side. In the middle of the cross piece is a square piece of wood rising toward the top of the bottle. Mounted to each side of this piece of wood is an elongated pink bird. On top of the square wood is a blue painted canoe shaped piece of wood, painted pink on the top. On each end of this piece are the other 2 fans. Between the fans is a shovel and a mallet.
Type: Fan Art in a Bottle   Maker's Name: Selick, Adam
Category: Whimsey   Made Where: Pittsburgh, PA area
Bottle Size: 9 1/2 x 3 1/4"   Year Made: 1895, March
Bottle Type: Unidentified square