A perfect valentine for someone with a lot of moxie already or for someone who could use a little more! Moxie originated around 1876 as a medicine called "Moxie Nerve Food", created in Lowell, MA by Maine native Dr. Augustin Thompson, who claimed its effectiveness especially against paralysis, softening of the brain, nervousness, and insomnia. With the addition of soda water, it became one of the first sodas ever to be mass produced, with an explosion of creative advertising campaigns surrounding it--and, the word moxie does indeed derive from the name of the soda. I consider this old Mason jar (itself I believe a fairly rare one) filled with Moxie bottle caps a complete and excellent found sculpture. It appears to me that all of the bottle caps here are early and pretty rare ones, black litho on cream, with cork linings—plus one for Sarsaparilla I spy near the bottom of the jar. These have not been removed from the jar—I would guess since they were collected! The Mason jar itself is an early one, with original lid, the 1858 patent date on the face, and lots of air bubbles in the glass.
Jar measures 9 1/2” x 4 1/2” in diameter. Some dust inside and some rust on the caps--just as there should be, jar in in great shape, with lid screwed on tight.
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