Primicerio & Company
Primicerio & Co. Japanese Mikado Figural Amber Glass Bottle – Baltimore, c. 1880–1900
Primicerio & Co. Japanese Mikado Figural Amber Glass Bottle – Baltimore, c. 1880–1900
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AT A GLANCE
- Type:
- Figural Bottle
- Subject:
- Japanese Mikado
- Maker:
- Primicerio & Co.
- Era:
- Victorian & Gilded Age (1870 - 1900)
- Circa:
- 1880 - 1900
- Origin:
- Baltimore, Maryland USA
- Material:
- Blown glass
- Dimensions:
- 6½" high
- Decoration:
- Molded figural form
- Maker’s mark:
- Embossed manufacturer and product markings
- Color:
- Amber
- Genre:
- Advertising & Bottles
- Notes:
- Blow-over mold; threaded finish; furniture polish bottle
- Condition:
- Excellent
Low stock: 1 left
Primicerio & Co. Japanese Mikado Figural Amber Glass Bottle
A rare and highly collectible 19th-century figural amber glass bottle produced by Primicerio & Company of Baltimore, Maryland, for their “Japanese Gloss” furniture polish.
Standing approximately 6½ inches tall, the bottle is molded in the form of a robed figure identified in bottle references, including guides by Ralph Kovel, as a Japanese Mikado (emperor). The design reflects late Victorian-era fascination with Orientalist imagery and figural advertising containers.
The bottle retains crisp embossing throughout, including:
- TRADE MARK (front collar)
- INDESTRUCTIBLE (back collar)
- J. G. P. (forehead)
- SHAKE ME WELL / BEFORE USING (vertical on skirt)
- GLOSS (vertical right sleeve)
- JAPANESE (vertical left sleeve)
- PRIMICERIO & CO (front heel)
- SOLE PROPRIETORS & MANUFACTURERS / BALTIMORE, MD (reverse heel)
The rich amber tone glass is in excellent condition with no chips or cracks noted. The external threaded finish shows the typical roughly ground rim consistent with late 19th-century manufacturing methods. Mold lines terminate at the base of the neck, consistent with blow-over mold production.
This sculptural figural bottle displays beautifully in a curio cabinet, library shelf, or study vignette layered with antique books and apothecary glass. The warm amber tone pairs especially well with walnut and darker woods and adds visual depth when grouped with other 19th-century bottles.
The “Japanese Mikado” bottle represents a distinctive example of late 19th-century figural advertising glass and is a standout example for collectors of figural bottles, Victorian advertising glass, Baltimore history memorability, and 19th-century bottle collectors. This bottle reportedly won the “Highest Award” at the 1884 World’s Fair Exposition.
Examples of this form are documented in bottle reference guides and appear infrequently on the market, particularly in excellent condition with crisp embossing and no damage. Its rich amber coloration and intact threaded finish make it especially appealing to advanced collectors of Victorian advertising glass.
Collector Reference: A comparable Primicerio “Japanese Mikado” figural bottle realized $375 at American Bottle Auctions (Auction #59, Lot 151, January 19, 2014).
We ask that when making your purchasing decision that you consider the photos as part of the item's description.
We ask that when making your purchasing decision that you consider the photos as part of the item's description.
We do our best to provide you within the written description as much information, whether it’s the history, manufacturer, or condition, for each item we sell.
We also recognize that a “picture is worth a thousand words” and ask that you view the photos we provide closely. Often, a photo can be more effective than a written description when determining if an item will meet your needs and satisfaction.
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