Nice Hartwig Kantorowuicz bottles.
In this case..."The hexagram symbolises protection of the drinker against demonic spirits (certainly a good thing after drinking too much liqueur). This hexagram is still seen today in North-east Germany and Poland, used as a trade mark on many sign-boards outside pubs serving spirits. This 'Star of David' should not be confused with the Jewish"... Willy Van den Bossche, Antique Glass Bottles, Their History and Evolution (1500-1850), pag 258, Plate 206.
I hope it helps
I would disagree that the star on these bottles was not initially intended to be a Jewish symbol. Afterall, the company was a Jewish owned distillery. In fact, in the family was a very famous Jewish writer.
Ernst Hartwig Kantorowicz (1895-1963) was a German-born Jewish historian of theology and iconographer, known for his 1927 book Kaiser Friedrich der Zweite on Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, and his later The King's Two Bodies (1957).
He was born in Posen (now Poznan, Poland). After four years' service in the Army in World War I, he studied philosophy at Berlin University from 1918. The following year, at the University of Heidelberg, he became acquainted with Stefan George, and became an associate of the Georgekreis. This and his work on Frederick II led to accusations that he identified too strongly with German nationalism. He was not, however, safe from unfavourable notice from the Nazis when they came to power in 1933
He held an academic position at Frankfurt University, but left Germany in 1938, taking a position at the University of Berkeley in 1939. After a controversy prompted by his reaction to McCarthyism, he moved to the Institute for Advanced Study.
Very interesting, Jay.
The bottle showed at the first pic, the bottle sealed with a salmon surmounted by a hexagram...
"The salmon (in German 'Der Lachs') is the trade mark of the distillery 'Der Lachs' or 'Der Danzinger Lachs', in 1770 situated in the Breitgasse, Nº. 52, in Danzing and still existing now in Nörten Hartenberg, Poland, formerly Germany. In 1711 Isaac Witwe Ling (the widow of Isaac Ling) was one of the owners of this 'salmon liqueur' (in German 'Lachs Likör') distillery.
For religious or mystical reasons, the liqueur also contains many small flakes of gold, hence its alternative name 'Danzinger Goldwater' (in german 'Danzinger Goldwasser')."
Willy Van den Bossche.
-Juan Carlos
Hey Jay, The fish in the Star of David was also used buy Christian Jews and before that the Menhora and a fish where the base of the Menhora and the tail of the fish came together to form the star. Ive included a hand scribbled example.