Chapoteaut Pepsin Wine
Hello Digger,
I picked up a bottle recently at my local junque shop. It was
full of dirt and obviously a dug bottle. In Colorado Springs where I live, I'm
used to finding bottles 1870's 1880's like this that have turned up during home
renovations, etc. I've researched through all my books, and online, but with
little success. I've included a couple of photos, but will also describe to
best of ability.
Bottle is BIM, seam ends about 1" above shoulder.
Colour clear, lip is applied collar. Smooth base with slight skirt. Bottle is
8" tall. Embossed in slight arch CHAPOTEAUT . Condition: two obvious air
bubbles in neck; one bubble between the T and E of Chapoteaut, all unbroken and
internal. Sadly a chip to rim, left side basically aligned with seam.
My best guess is maybe a mineral water bottle, but I have found
reference to a French pharmaceutical company dating approximately 1888, but
their bottles have embossed "Chapoteaut Paris". Seeking any info
on manufacturer, rarity, value, etc.
Thanks in advance for your
efforts.
Steven
RIGAUD & CHAPOTEAUT, (Late Grimault
et Cie.) were manufacturing Chemists in Paris. They produced a number of
products, mostly medicines with pseudo-scientific sounding names like: Santal
Midy, made from sandal-wood and for acute gonorrhoea, Apioline, made from
parsley for painful menstruation and a whole line of digestive nutritive
restoratives - beef juice and extract of sheep's stomach - yummy! All of their products
were imported into the United States by Fougera & Co.
of New York.
I am going with their Peptone Wine ( 1886-1900), a tonic for invalids as the most likely identity for your bottle. It was sold for $1 in pint bottles. Value is probably $8-10
