Posted 8 years ago
Shultzjl1982
(1 item)
I found this bottle in the basement of a house built in the late 1800s. It's slightly over 6 1/2 inches tall with no markings on the bottle itself. The bottom part of the cork is still intact and there's orange liquid inside along with a fungus-like substance. I can't find anything similar to it on the internet which has peaked my curiosity even further. If anyone has any idea what it could be please feel free to share
If the seam stops before the top, it's likely pre-1920. If you want to display it, seal the top with a thick layer of clear glue or something. Would make an interesting decoration piece!
As for the stuff in the bottom, it is likely part of the product, not a fungus. Looks to be some kind of fatty substance. Possibly an animal-based medicine product.
Shame you didn't find the label. If I had to GUESS, I'd say it was a Beef Iron and Wine, which was a very popular product back in the day to give nourishment/strength in illness.
Here's one in my collection, with label:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/O0PGQ0qnTayTimRnjtHOZuYJ3oijgZ4aXihY6Di5snvRgq2eICexz7uKBuZGOTgYCZZW7Pdhvyw=w270-h576-no
Thank you for your time and insight SpiritBear, that makes total sense as to the separation of fats in the liquid.