Comments on: “The God of Things As They Ought to Be” – Bottle or salt/pepper shaker…or god?

By: historicbottlewebsite

historicbottlewebsite — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:48:24 +0000

Thanks Wally for that link! Great information about the depth of collectibles (and more) associated with the great Billiken. Now if we only had a Billiken Presidential Candidate…things would be what they ought to be.

Bill Lindsey
Historic Bottle Worthologist

By: historicbottlewebsite

historicbottlewebsite — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:41:36 +0000

Hi Douglass and thanks for the compliment on the article! I was aware of the Billiken/Alaska connection and am real glad you added something about it pertinent to your specialty…scrimshaw.

I find the adoption of the Billiken design by Native Alaskans to be greatly fascinating. Why the use of that design? The physical features of the Billiken must have some type of universal, cross-cultural appeal, eh? I’m sure there was also some commercial aspect to it too since many native arts were (and are produced) to sell to others.

Thanks again Douglass!

Bill Lindsey
Historic Bottle Worthologist

By: wally

wally — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 07:26:09 +0000

Enjoyed the article. Here is another one on the subject.
http://www.e-z-smith.com/Billycan/

By: ScrimCollector

ScrimCollector — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 03:10:52 +0000

Bill,

Great article; nicely done!

And welcome as WorthPoint’s newest Worthologist.

In the early 20th Century, the Billiken pattern was adopted by Alaskan Native-Americans as a subject for whale tooth carving (scrimshaw), and the pattern is still carved today.
Here are a few examples in WorthPoint.

Douglass Moody
Scrimshaw Worthologist