EXTREMELY RARE “WINE COCA” CERAMIC SODA FOUNTAIN SYRUP DISPENSER.

In 1863 a French chemist created a new beverage that combined Bordeaux wine and cocaine from coca leaves. It was called “Vin Mariani”, sold as a remedy for fatigue & exhaustion, and proved so wildly popular that even Queen Victoria became a customer. Pope Leo XIII was so fond of it, he awarded it a Vatican Gold Medal. The craze eventually captivated the U.S. and caught the attention of Dr. John Pemberton of Atlanta who in 1885 concocted his own wine & coca version he called “Pemberton’s French Wine Coca”. When Atlanta introduced Prohibition in 1886, Pemberton replaced the wine in his beverage with sugar syrup, renamed it “Coca-Cola” and marketed it as the “temperance drink”. It was first sold at Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta in May 1886. While “Coca-Cola” was being launched, Pemberton continued selling his non-alcoholic “French Wine Coca”, in an ever increasing, nationally competitive coca wine beverage marketplace. Upon Pemberton’s death in 1888, businessman James C. Mayfield bought a managing share of the Pemberton Medicine Co., but not the rights to the Coca-Cola formula. He eventually reincorporated the business in 1894 as the “Wine Coca Co.” It’s long been speculated that this “Wine Coca” dispenser has ties to the early roots of Coca-Cola, but definitive proof can’t be established at this time, due in part to the destruction of Coca-Cola’s early records relating to this part of it’s history. It remains one of two such “Wine Coca” dispensers known to exist and carries with it one of the most intriguing historical narratives of that era. It was a generation that witnessed the inception of the American soda fountain in the corner drug store at a time when quack patent medicines and narcotic remedy cure-alls collided with Prohibition and the Pure Food and Drug Act. The dispenser consists of an ovoid shaped vessel supported by three tall, graceful hollow ceramic legs with molded acanthus leaf patterns. The legs have gilt pinstripe highlighting with small sprays of hand-colored hawthorne blossom transfer decorations. The body of the dispenser has large, beautiful hand-painted hawthorne blossom transfers flanking the hand-lettered “Wine Coca – 5C” product advertisement. The top has a raised collar which likely held a ceramic lid which is missing. The bottom of the bowl has a hole for a spigot which would have been used to dispense the beverage syrup into glasses before adding soda water. SIZE: 17″ t. CONDITION: Very good to excellent; flowering hawthorn decorations are in near excellent original condition. The “Wine Coca” lettering shows some wear. There has been a repair made to the raised collar which has been painted a light cream color. Missing lid and original spigot. 48368-1 (4,000-6,000) – Lot 2287

Auction: Advertising, Toy & Doll - Spring 2015

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2287	$0.00	EXTREMELY RARE “WINE COCA” CERAMIC SODA FOUNTAIN SYRUP DISPENSER. In 1863 a French chemist created a new beverage that combined Bordeaux wine and cocaine from coca leaves. It was called “Vin Mariani”, sold as a remedy for fatigue & exhaustion, and proved so wildly popular that even Queen Victoria became a customer. Pope Leo XIII was so fond of it, he awarded it a Vatican Gold Medal. The craze eventually captivated the U.S. and caught the attention of Dr. John Pemberton of Atlanta who in 1885 concocted his own wine & coca version he called “Pemberton’s French Wine Coca”. When Atlanta introduced Prohibition in 1886, Pemberton replaced the wine in his beverage with sugar syrup, renamed it “Coca-Cola” and marketed it as the “temperance drink”. It was first sold at Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta in May 1886. While “Coca-Cola” was being launched, Pemberton continued selling his non-alcoholic “French Wine Coca”, in an ever increasing, nationally competitive coca wine beverage marketplace. Upon Pemberton’s death in 1888, businessman James C. Mayfield bought a managing share of the Pemberton Medicine Co., but not the rights to the Coca-Cola formula. He eventually reincorporated the business in 1894 as the “Wine Coca Co.” It’s long been speculated that this “Wine Coca” dispenser has ties to the early roots of Coca-Cola, but definitive proof can’t be established at this time, due in part to the destruction of Coca-Cola’s early records relating to this part of it’s history. It remains one of two such “Wine Coca” dispensers known to exist and carries with it one of the most intriguing historical narratives of that era. It was a generation that witnessed the inception of the American soda fountain in the corner drug store at a time when quack patent medicines and narcotic remedy cure-alls collided with Prohibition and the Pure Food and Drug Act. The dispenser consists of an ovoid shaped vessel supported by three tall, graceful hollow ceramic legs with molded acanthus leaf patterns. The legs have gilt pinstripe highlighting with small sprays of hand-colored hawthorne blossom transfer decorations. The body of the dispenser has large, beautiful hand-painted hawthorne blossom transfers flanking the hand-lettered “Wine Coca – 5C” product advertisement. The top has a raised collar which likely held a ceramic lid which is missing. The bottom of the bowl has a hole for a spigot which would have been used to dispense the beverage syrup into glasses before adding soda water. SIZE: 17″ t. CONDITION: Very good to excellent; flowering hawthorn decorations are in near excellent original condition. The “Wine Coca” lettering shows some wear. There has been a repair made to the raised collar which has been painted a light cream color. Missing lid and original spigot. 48368-1 (4,000-6,000) – Lot 2287 Auction: Advertising, Toy & Doll - Spring 2015 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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EXTREMELY RARE “WINE COCA” CERAMIC SODA FOUNTAIN SYRUP DISPENSER.