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VERY RARE 19TH-CENTURY McGUIRE BROS. “LEMON BEER” STONEWARE BOTTLE
LaPalm Enterprises is pleased to offer an exceptionally unusual early American stoneware beverage bottle, boldly impressed:
McGUIRE BROS.
LEMON BEER
Measuring approximately 10 inches tall, this substantial stoneware bottle displays the wonderfully crude character collectors look for in early utilitarian American pottery: an irregular hand-finished form, uneven firing, heavily textured glaze, primitive base, natural color variation, and a strong impressed advertising mark.
This is not an ordinary unmarked stoneware bottle. The combination of the McGuire Bros. name and specifically identified “LEMON BEER” contents makes this an especially intriguing piece of early beverage, bottling and advertising history.
VERY RARE — POSSIBLY ONE OF A KIND
Extensive research has failed to locate another identical example of this McGuire Bros. “Lemon Beer” stoneware bottle.
While we cannot establish that this is literally the only surviving example, no identical example has been located in our research to date. That apparent scarcity makes this a particularly compelling piece for the advanced stoneware, antique bottle, brewery, soda/root beer or early advertising collector.
“Lemon Beer” is not a modern interpretation of the marking. It was a genuine commercially manufactured beverage during the 19th century. Period business directories document manufacturers specifically producing “Lemon Beer” and later “Root and Lemon Beer,” supporting the historical context of the terminology impressed into this bottle.
AGE & ATTRIBUTION
Based upon its construction, form, glaze, firing characteristics and historical context, we believe this bottle dates to the 19th century, with a mid-to-late 1800s origin considered likely.
We have encountered references suggesting an 1870s-era attribution, and lemon beer is documented as being commercially manufactured during that period. However, we have not independently established an exact 1876 production date or positively identified the location of this particular McGuire Bros. operation.
Accordingly, we are deliberately offering it as a 19th-century bottle rather than presenting an undocumented exact year or city as fact.
CONDITION
The bottle remains an impressive survivor considering its age and utilitarian purpose.
The McGUIRE BROS. / LEMON BEER impression remains remarkably bold and readable and presents beautifully from the front.
The stoneware displays considerable original character, including firing irregularities, glaze variation, staining, surface marks, discoloration and other characteristics associated with early manufacture and approximately a century and a half of age.
There is chipping/roughness and loss around the mouth/lip, particularly along the interior edge. Please examine the detailed close-up photographs carefully. Additional minor edge wear, surface imperfections and small marks are present.
The crude, irregular surface, uneven coloration and firing characteristics visible throughout the bottle are an important part of its early character and should not automatically be interpreted as later damage.
We have intentionally photographed the bottle from numerous angles, including close photographs of the mouth, base, impressed lettering and surface, so collectors can evaluate its condition for themselves.
No restoration is known to us.
COLLECTOR APPEAL
This bottle crosses several highly collectible areas:
Early American stoneware • Antique advertising • Historic beverage bottles • Lemon beer • Root beer & soda history • Brewery/bottling history • Primitive pottery • 19th-century Americana
The large McGuire Bros. impression combined with the unusual LEMON BEER designation gives the bottle tremendous display character. It would look outstanding in an advanced antique bottle collection, early stoneware collection, historic tavern or brewery display, or collection devoted to early American advertising and beverage history.
Most importantly, despite extensive searching, we have been unable to locate another identical McGuire Bros. Lemon Beer example.
That does not allow us to conclusively call it unique—but it certainly makes this an exceptionally difficult bottle to duplicate based upon the research presently available.
LAPALM GUARANTEE OF REPRESENTATION
You will receive the exact antique bottle shown in the photographs.
Nothing has been done to artificially disguise its age or condition. The numerous photographs are an integral part of this listing and should be carefully reviewed, particularly the detailed photographs of the lip and mouth.
Because genuinely scarce regional stoneware can be difficult to research and surviving documentation is incomplete, we welcome additional historical information from knowledgeable collectors regarding McGuire Bros. and their Lemon Beer operation.
A remarkable survivor from the early American beverage trade—and quite possibly an opportunity that will be extremely difficult to duplicate.
LaPalm Enterprises — Buyers & Sellers of Unusual Antiques, Collectibles & Historic Americana
Provenance Available upon request.
