The first person to use a fish-shaped bottle was W. H. Ware, who patented the design in 1866. He used the container for his “Doctor Fischs Bitters.” The story is that the recipe for Fish Bitters was obtained from a Dr. Gottlieb of Berlin, Prussia. Bitters were advertised throughout the 1870-1880’s for dyspepsia, general debility, loss of appetite, and as an antidote to alcohol, even though bitters contained large amounts of alcohol itself.
This Fish bitters (W.H. Ware, 1866) made $9,520, including buyer’s premium. A small postone kept it from bringing more. Photo courtesy American Bottle Auctions.
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