Munkacsy ' S Curative Water 2 Gallon Ship In Bottle, Diorama, Folk Art Whimsy
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:15137128 | Primary Material: Glass |
| Country/Region of Manufacture: Unknown | Featured Refinements: Ship in a Bottle |
| Handmade: Yes |
Letter To Canada: I recently received a nice letter from a collector who lives in British Columbia. She asked my advice, and here's what I told her: "Save your pennies and buy quality. There's lots of crappy ships in bottles on eBay that are factory made and not worth the cost of postage. You will pay more for quality; however, you'll be investing in a work of art that will only increase in value through the years. You have to expect to pay more for a true ...work of art by an artist. I'm not the only guy posting quality SIBs on eBay, but what you will get from me is total honesty about what you are purchasing, and a price that reflects the item's true worth, based on my decades of experience buying and selling ships in bottles. Thanks for listening, Michael
Background: Munkacsy's Curative Water (1930's) ... If you Google the foregoing, you can read all about this bottle.Today, bottled mineral water is as common as Coke and Pepsi. Almost 100 years ago, nobody knew anything about it; at least, until a man in Caldwell, NJ drilled for water on his property and found an unlimited supply of a hard water loaded with minerals. In doing research, I found a 1979 New York Times article about Munkacsy's water -- "Neighbors who tasted the water soon reported its curative powers. The aches and pains of constipation, rheumatism, arthritis and neuritis seemed to fall away as they drank." What's For Sale ..: So, what we have here is a truly interesting historic bottle from the 1930's. However, aside from the history, this is a beautiful ship in bottle with all kinds of good things going for it. For starters, we know that this SIB is "made in the USA." It's also large -- I'm guessing about 1.5 gallons? The bottle is almost 13" in length, and a robust 5.5" in diameter -- in a word: BIG. Also very heavy, so there will be a slight up-charge in postage. Inside the bottle is a beautiful scene. The ship is quite large, measuring approx. 10" in length. The model is so large, the 3-D details on deck are also large -- hold covers and a dinghy aft. Three tug boats and a small sailboat accompany the ship out to sea -- all nicely detailed, as you can see in the photos. The diorama to the rear (bottom of the bottle) is really nice as well -- a large lighthouse type building, several houses and a naval weather vane station bearing the Stars And Stripes. Munkacsy’s is embossed near the neck of the bottle (capped with a screw cap) -- which helps us date when this was made.
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Dying With The Most Toys? ... I assure you, I have no desire to die with the most ships in bottles. I've been collecting since the '80's, and have amassed a wonderful collection; however, now that I'm retired, it's time to share the wealth. The process is painful, because I'm "dumping my babies." My loss -- your gain. I have way too many and would like to reduce inventory significantly.
My Listings ... I offer an objective, detailed and accurate description of my ships in bottles. I price my SIBs based on my expertise and perception of value. I don't sell SIBs to make big bucks -- I'm comfortable financially, and deal in SIBs more for fun than profit. Parts of my collection have been displayed in libraries and museums, and I was a featured contributor on a nationally syndicated radio program talking about SIBs. As a seller, I've shipped SIBs to six different continents, everywhere except Antarctica, and I've never received so much as a sniff of negative feedback. If anyone has any questions about this wonderful form of folk, please don't hesitate to contact me. A Word About Value ... Ships in bottles remain a hidden treasure of the broader world of Folk Art. You can still buy a high quality antique SIB at reasonable prices compared to other works of art. The value of SIBs will continue to increase significantly in coming years, making SIBs not only something to enjoy, but also a worthy investment.The Fine Print: Payment required within two (2) days of auction closing. Items are in used condition and sold "as is". Some have normal signs of wear and tear consistent with its age; however, significant defects or imperfections are always noted in the detailed description. My photos are accurate depictions of what you're buying; accordingly, I do not offer returns. All my SIBs are packed expertly, so I will not assume liability for any item lost or broken in transit; however, anyone paying through PayPal has buyer's protection against loss. International Buyers are solely responsible for any customs fees or duties in the country of destination. Contact me for rates of International shipping.
Background: Munkacsy's Curative Water (1930's) ... If you Google the foregoing, you can read all about this bottle.Today, bottled mineral water is as common as Coke and Pepsi. Almost 100 years ago, nobody knew anything about it; at least, until a man in Caldwell, NJ drilled for water on his property and found an unlimited supply of a hard water loaded with minerals. In doing research, I found a 1979 New York Times article about Munkacsy's water -- "Neighbors who tasted the water soon reported its curative powers. The aches and pains of constipation, rheumatism, arthritis and neuritis seemed to fall away as they drank." What's For Sale ..: So, what we have here is a truly interesting historic bottle from the 1930's. However, aside from the history, this is a beautiful ship in bottle with all kinds of good things going for it. For starters, we know that this SIB is "made in the USA." It's also large -- I'm guessing about 1.5 gallons? The bottle is almost 13" in length, and a robust 5.5" in diameter -- in a word: BIG. Also very heavy, so there will be a slight up-charge in postage. Inside the bottle is a beautiful scene. The ship is quite large, measuring approx. 10" in length. The model is so large, the 3-D details on deck are also large -- hold covers and a dinghy aft. Three tug boats and a small sailboat accompany the ship out to sea -- all nicely detailed, as you can see in the photos. The diorama to the rear (bottom of the bottle) is really nice as well -- a large lighthouse type building, several houses and a naval weather vane station bearing the Stars And Stripes. Munkacsy’s is embossed near the neck of the bottle (capped with a screw cap) -- which helps us date when this was made.
********************************
Dying With The Most Toys? ... I assure you, I have no desire to die with the most ships in bottles. I've been collecting since the '80's, and have amassed a wonderful collection; however, now that I'm retired, it's time to share the wealth. The process is painful, because I'm "dumping my babies." My loss -- your gain. I have way too many and would like to reduce inventory significantly.
My Listings ... I offer an objective, detailed and accurate description of my ships in bottles. I price my SIBs based on my expertise and perception of value. I don't sell SIBs to make big bucks -- I'm comfortable financially, and deal in SIBs more for fun than profit. Parts of my collection have been displayed in libraries and museums, and I was a featured contributor on a nationally syndicated radio program talking about SIBs. As a seller, I've shipped SIBs to six different continents, everywhere except Antarctica, and I've never received so much as a sniff of negative feedback. If anyone has any questions about this wonderful form of folk, please don't hesitate to contact me. A Word About Value ... Ships in bottles remain a hidden treasure of the broader world of Folk Art. You can still buy a high quality antique SIB at reasonable prices compared to other works of art. The value of SIBs will continue to increase significantly in coming years, making SIBs not only something to enjoy, but also a worthy investment.The Fine Print: Payment required within two (2) days of auction closing. Items are in used condition and sold "as is". Some have normal signs of wear and tear consistent with its age; however, significant defects or imperfections are always noted in the detailed description. My photos are accurate depictions of what you're buying; accordingly, I do not offer returns. All my SIBs are packed expertly, so I will not assume liability for any item lost or broken in transit; however, anyone paying through PayPal has buyer's protection against loss. International Buyers are solely responsible for any customs fees or duties in the country of destination. Contact me for rates of International shipping.
