'Pas de bourrée' in a Bottle - Collecting and Valuing Antique Bols Ballerina Bottles

Antique make great gifts, great decorations, and great collector’s items!  Although antique bottle collections do not have to be rare to be beautiful, having a valuable collection to pass down to your family is a special commodity.  And hey – you can always sell it if you are in a pinch!  If you are new to the world of bottle collecting, a wonderful place to start is with Antique Bols Ballerina Bottles.  These bottles, produced between the 1950s and the 1970s, are some of the most popular and intriguing variety of antique bottles.  Antique Bols Ballerina Bottles sometimes play a little tune and come with a tiny, hand painted ballerina in the center of each bottle. This collection is sure to both hold its value and be a unqiue, fascinating collection for you to enjoy!

About Bols Bottles
(courtesy of http://www.bottlebooks.com and http://www.lucasbols.com)

Bols Bottles

One of the companies that produced bottles and collectibles that garner the most questions is the Lucas Bols Company of Amsterdam, Holland. Typically the answer is they are not especially valuable. However, occasionally the questioner has one of the 1880-1910 era pottery or clay bottles which may have some value to Bottle Collectors. Most of the Bols bottles are too new to be of interest in Antique Bottle Collectors. The majority of the Bols bottles about which I get questions were produced in the 1950-1980 period. Most of the questions are about one of the four types of bottles listed below. Because these bottles may have a date of 1575, some people assume they are old when actually they are not.

Ballerina Bottles

The famous Bols Ballerina bottles were produced between 1957 and the late 70’s. Their popularity was at its peak in the late 1960’s, early 70’s with a production of 60,000 pieces a year (in 1971, for instance, we sold some 30,000 pieces in the USA…)

There were several versions:

•    Contents: 500ml Apricot Brandy, Gold Liqueur, Triple Sec, or Creme de Menthe.
•    The ballerina had either a white or a red skirt
•    Music: Blue Danube
•    The selling price used to be NLG 33,50
•    Nowadays, the Bols Ballerina has become a popular collector's item.
•    The value depends on what a collector is willing to pay, but starts at approx. Euro 100 to.....?

These are extremely common found all over the world. However, bottles with the original box and contents are rare. Those with labels and contents are plentiful but collectible and usually sell under $39.00. These bottles come in several flavors of liqueurs. Some even have the gold specks in the liquid!
 
Delft Decanters

These "hand-painted" collectibles have been made by the Bols company for a long time. Older ones are valuable, but not always rare. It is beyond the scope of this web site to detail these bottles. Those show in pictures are relatively new and sell for under $25.
 

Bols Gin Pottery Bottles

Stamped Erven (sometime Ervan) Lucas Bols Amsterdam These pottery bottles are very common. the 1880-1910 bottles are wheel thrown and more highly collectible than the molded later bottles.  Many of the older ones are collectible and might sell for $30-40. The bottle shown is new.


Four Compartment Bottles

In the 1960s, I presume, Bols began making their four compartment bottle. Each compartment held a different liqueur. Being somewhat unusual in their shape makes them standout, but they like the other bottles above tend to not be valuable.
 

The Ervan Lucas Bols company has been operating in this country since 1947 when they opened their first plant in Englewood, New Jersey. They distributed their products all around the world as early as the 1870s.


Tips for Collecting Vintage Antique Bols Ballerina Bottles

Always look for opportunities to add to your collection!  You never know where or when you could stumble upon the perfect bottle to complete your growing collection.  Check out estate sales, garage sales, flea markets, antique stores, and specialty vintage Bols Ballerina Bottles websites online.  You may even be able to find one or two in your own family, so ask around!  What could be more special than a family heirloom Bols Ballerina Bottles in your collection?

Decide how you want to collect your vintage Antique Bols Ballerina Bottles.  Do you want to only collect a certain brand?  Or maybe you want to collect only Antique Bols Ballerina Bottles manufactured during a certain time period?  Creating a theme for your collection will make your collection as a whole more valuable and interesting.

Learn about Bols Ballerina Bottles.  It is good to know a little bit about what you are collecting before you start shopping!  This way you will know if you happen to stumble upon a rare, unique find!  Knowing a lot about your new hobby will also help you stay engaged.  Antique bottle books, websites and local antique bottle experts are great resources for antique bottle collectors.

Check local events and conventions.  You never know when a antique bottle convention could be coming to a town near you.  These are great opportunities to learn more about Antique Bols Ballerina Bottles and find some really great deals and unique bottles.

Get involved in the collectors’ community.  Join collectors’ associations online to connect with people that share your passion of antique bottle collecting.  This can be a great way to learn more about your new hobby, find great places to buy Bols Ballerina Bottles, and stay informed about bottle shows and conventions that may be coming to your town.  Check out http://www.antiquebottles.com/clubs.html to find some antique bottle collecting clubs in your area!

Updated Bols Ballerina Bottle Price Guide