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Case Auctions
Live Auction

2022 Summer Fine Art & Antiques (Day 1)

Sat, Jul 9, 2022 09:00AM EDT
Lot 266

Carl Worner Folk Art Bottle Saloon Diorama

Estimate: $1,400 - $1,800

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$3,000 $200
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000
Carl (Karl) Worner (Germany/United States, 19th/20th Century) folk art carved and assembled miniature wood and paper saloon bottle diorama titled "Find the 6 Man". Depicts a Cincinnati, Ohio saloon belonging to Joseph Albermann, with a bartender serving two patrons at the bar and two other patrons seated at a table drinking beer and playing cards. "Find the 6 Man" written in graphite on the front floor edge; additional graphite inscription along the bottle base in German reading "Drink Noch Eins" (Drink One More). The "hidden" sixth man is sketched in graphite on the reverse side in a privy or cubbyhole between the floral cardstock drawing. Painted elements throughout including a hunt scene over the bar with painted and labeled bottles and other items behind the bar and on the floor next to the table. Many items are labeled with a mixture of English and German. Housed in a tall round liqueur bottle with a carved long wood plug. 24 1/4" H x 6" dia. 1st Qtr. 20th century. Note: Joseph Albermann is listed in a 1907 & 1909 Cincinnati, Ohio city directory as a saloon owner. He is additionally listed as a bartender/saloon owner in the 1910 US Census. Copies of these documents are available to the winning bidder. Artist Biography: Carl (Karl) Worner or Warner was a German immigrant to the United States who was a prolific folk art bottle builder. He presumably made hundreds of these bottles, as over 100 bottles have survived. His bottles fell into four main categories: religious (crucifixion), clocks, bar or saloon scenes, and non-saloon dioramas. Some of his most well-known bottles depict saloons and often feature a "missing man" element along with elaborate bar details with many words often written in his native German language. (Adapted from: https://folkartinbottles.com/)

Private Cincinnati, Ohio estate.

Condition

Diorama in overall very good condition with nice bright paint and clear details. Interior of bottle with grime, no attempt has been made to clean the interior.