Ships, Folk Art, and Whimsey in Bottles

This bottle is from a category of bottles which usually contain an action or nature scene with people and/or animals. And, while the scenes are different and the bottles vary, they are still immediately recognizable as being of the same type and for the same purpose. They are referred to a "French Bottles." First produced in the 1920’s, French distillers began putting folk art scenes in some of their bottles, presumably to enhance sales and perhaps add flavor to the liquor. The addition of these scenes in bottles certainly added interest and made great displays both before and after the alcohol was consumed. The earliest themes were well-planned and nicely made. They contained figures and objects that were hand carved and three-dimensional. Examples from this period are generally quite rare and very collectable. This is a bottle whimsey from the 1920's era and it is a scene of an artist standing before an easel painting a picture. The carved wooden artist is smoking a pipe and has long flowing hair, and he is wearing a painting jacket. He is holding an artist brush in his right hand. A canvas is mounted on a wooden easel. Additional information about the "French Bottles" can be found at: https://www.folkartinbottles.com/workshop/featured/239-french-bottles-by-greg-alvey