Frisky Whiskey & John Berkey
Hey all! This is my first entry in the blog for Pink Owl Vintage. My mom had given me some items that she has had waiting to list and it ended up taking up space. Among those things was an old plastic whiskey bottle and a beautiful print signed by some artist I needed to research.
First thing I notice about this bottle is : "The world's first whiskey to be aged by atomic materials".
I noticed a battery compartment on the bottom and started to wonder if it was a music box? I searched good ole google and came across a page explaining what it is. Turns out it is a gag gift made in 1963 by Poynter Products. "Frisky Whiskey". The same company that made the infamous bikini clad Jayne Mansfield water bottle and "The Thing" toy from Addams Family. It claims to be aged (with radiation) at a fictitious distillery in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The battery compartment powers a motor inside the bottle so when you pick it up the bottle shakes violently. I was sitting here last night staring at the bottom of the bottle wondering what cell it required when the husband came home. He walks in the kitchen and sees me holding a bottle of booze. I ask if we have C cell batteries for it he looks at me confused and asks what the hell I was drinking and why it required batteries. He thought I was tanked at 1am and trying to insert batteries into this mysterious bottle. I think he's came home to worse.
This beautiful print is signed by the artist in the corner. Near it is the artists finishing signature and made out "BERKEY". I googled the name and came across an artist who did original poster art for Star Wars, the remake of King Kong and many other things. I thought "nah this isn't the guy, my luck it is someone who no one has even heard of". Until I saw the signature on his paintings and realized they were the same one. "John Berkey" Being the big nerd I am, I was surprised I hadn't stumbled upon his work and fell in love with it earlier. He eventually resided in my home state of Minnesota and did some work in St.Paul for years. Sadly he died in 2009. I figured I would share some of his awesome work (that I wish I owned myself)!
Some original Star Wars poster art
I found a bit of information on the poster that I currently have.
" 1989 John Berkey Signed Litho Delta Queen Steamboat Co. This is an original 1989 edition signed and numbered lithograph from the Delta Queen Steamboat Co. It is about 35" wide, 23 1/2" long and features Delta Queen riverboats with " St. Louis A Glowing Jewel ". It is signed and numbered in pencil John Berkey 785/1000." -website source
