Object Record
Metadata
Catalog Number |
AjGv 30 8B1 3 |
Object Name |
Bottle |
Description |
A clear, empty glass bottle with straight sides, and a round body with no visible seams. Shoulder and neck are formed in a mould in two parts and attached to the main body. Lip and base have been attached later. The neck and shoulder have visible seams. Markings around the base's borders in raised letters read 'Imperial Extract Co. Toronto'. |
Year Range from |
1883 |
Year Range to |
1925 |
Dimensions |
H-9.8 W-4 Dia-4 Cir-1.53 cm |
History |
Because the bottle hasn't any side seams on the body it may have been moulded in two parts and the finishing process obliterated the seams. This bottle is believed to have contained 'Shirriff's True Vanilla' made by Imperial Extract Company of Toronto ca. 1913. According to local advertisements, "Shirriff's True Vanilla is the real extract of Mexican Vanilla beans, and not a chemical imitation" (Advertisement. Shirriff's True Vanilla. The Canadian Grocer. January 10th, 1913). Imperial Extract Company, Toronto, was started by Francis Adam Shirriff in 1883 and was located at 4 Colborne Street, It specialized in fruit and flavouring extracts, as well as perfumes. The firm was later renamed Shirriff Ltd around 1926 and sold in 1965. Shirriff jelly powders are still available and the company is known as Smuckers. Bottle was excavated at the Benares. In 1991, the Ontario Heritage Foundation excavated at Benares Historic House. The excavation’s biggest finds were in areas used as refuse dumps by the Harris family. These historically significant sites around the property helped to provide insight into the life of the Harris family. Some of the areas excavated included the perimeter of the house, the wine cellar, summer kitchen, carriage shed, dairy and ice house, bake oven, potting shed and the privy (out-house). In all over 94,000 artifacts and fragments were found made out of materials such as glass, ceramics, buttons, bone and metal. Reference: Advertisement. Shirriffs True Vanilla. The Canadian Grocer. January 10th, 1913 Scion to Shirriff's food empire switched to manufacturing plastics. Gay Abbate. The Globe and Mail Dec 1st, 2008 The Shirriff Saga: The story of a Toronto marmalade dynasty. Sarah B. Hood Culinary Chronicles. Newsletter of the Culinary Historians of Canada. Number 70, April 2012 |