How a Dedicated Collector and a Monumental Auction Event Created Milestones with Easy Live Auction

_{A successful sale day at BBR Auctions, world records were set via Easy Live Auction. View hammer price results of the auction here.}

Alan Blakeman of BBR Auctions, based at the Elsecar Heritage Centre in Barnsley, has dedicated the last 45 years to promoting the collecting of antique bottles, pot lids, advertising signs, and related items. Speaking to Alan, his enthusiasm and passion is stark, and he was incredibly happy to share his excitement about his specialism.

His annual Summer National weekend, held in the quaint village of Elsecar, South Yorkshire, draws specialist collectors from all corners of the globe. This unique event features a variety of stalls, both inside and out, offering an impressive array of antique retail items that once graced shops and establishments of all kinds.

Refuse to Riches

Initially dismissed as meagre refuse, these pottery and glass items have gained immense value over the decades. Prices that once seemed astronomical at £500 to £1,000 for an empty bottle have now soared into the five-figure range. BBR Auctions has now set world records for various items, including Codd bottles, pot lids, early whisky jugs, patent medicine bottles, and black glass wine bottles dating back to the 1650s.

On July 6th, the 32nd Summer National event concluded with an extraordinary finish. Visitors came from as far as New Zealand, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Europe, Canada, America, and every corner of the UK to participate in what was billed as BBR’s best auction presentation yet. Among the many significant lots were two standout bottles.

_{Advert for Goffe & Sons 'Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham' (1885)}

Record-Breaking

The previous record for a Hiram Codd-invented marble bottle was just under £13,000, set in 2013, and many doubted it would ever be surpassed. However, sale day proved otherwise, with several world record prices shattered across different categories. One notable sale was a unique ceramic shop plaque made by P & R Pratt for pickles, sauces, and fruits, which fetched a world record price of £16,000.

_{This shop plaque made by P & R Pratt for pickles, sauces, and fruits is the single only known example. It sold for a world record price of £16,000.}

The excitement in the room was palpable as the auction moved to the marquee bottles. The first, an amber bottle from a London supplier to a Hyderabad (India) pop maker, was attributed to Barnsley and sold for an astonishing £30,000. This sale alone broke the previous record, but the best was still yet to come.

_{Rogers Rock & Co. likely boasted Western India’s first ‘aerated water’ factory.}

_{This pointed-ended amber bottle by Rogers Rock & Co. broke records, selling for an astonishing £30,000}

The day’s crowning achievement was a shiny blue bottle embossed for Goffe & Sons Birmingham, with rear lettering indicating it was made by E BREFITT & CO LTD in Castleford. The competition for this bottle was fierce, both in-room and online, with bids flying in from collectors around the world. The final price soared to £33,000 through Easy Live Auction - or £38,940 with commission, setting a new world record for a marble-stoppered Codd bottle.

There is a growing appreciation of these bottles, and the value reflects it. It is a blatant attestation to the growing appreciation and value of antique bottles and related items, as well as the unequivocal dedication of Alan Blakeman to the field. Blakeman's journey began over four decades ago when the antiques world scoffed at these once-discarded items. Over the years, his tireless efforts in promoting and showcasing these collectables have aided in transforming public perception and have elevated their status in the antiques market to new heights.

_{A new record was set at BBR Auctions in Elsecar, South Yorkshire, with this cobalt blue bottle fetching £33,000 (£38,940 with commission) at auction.}

_{This bottle is believed to be the very first pristine condition original example remaining, with others commonly damaged or refurbished.}

Blakeman's annual Summer National weekend brings together a community of like-minded collectors who share a passion for cherishing relics of the past such as these. The stalls at Elsecar Heritage Centre offer a treasure trove of antiques, each with its own story to tell, from early whisky jugs and patent medicine bottles to pot lids and advertising signs – each piece a survivor from a bygone era.

Looking to the Future

The record-breaking sales at this year’s Summer National event highlight the incredible journey these bottles have taken, from being dismissed as refuse to becoming highly sought-after collectables.

This event underscores the growing appreciation and value of antique bottles and related items, a clear testament to Alan Blakeman's long-time dedication to the field. As collectors from around the world continue to recognise the value, the market for antique bottles is poised for even greater achievements in the future.

Blakeman's vision and passion have transformed a niche hobby into a respected field, as well as ensuring that the significance of antique bottles will survive for generations to come yet.

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Specialising in antique packaging: antique bottles, pot lids, enamel signs, cream pots, and much more can be found in BBR Auctions’ catalogues. Search for lots here.

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