Front view of Hostetter’s Bitters ceramic sculpture by Rurik Leif Kallis.
Back view showing sculpted label and St. George slaying the dragon.
Side profile of ceramic sculpture with carved detailing.
Opposite side view highlighting hand-formed construction.
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Front view of Hostetter’s Bitters ceramic sculpture by Rurik Leif Kallis.
Back view showing sculpted label and St. George slaying the dragon.
Side profile of ceramic sculpture with carved detailing.
Opposite side view highlighting hand-formed construction.

Dr. J. Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters Ceramic Sculpture by Rurik Leif Kallis

$1,500.00
$1,500.00
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Description

A masterfully crafted nod to the patent medicine era, this ceramic sculpture by Rurik Leif Kallis reimagines a 19th-century Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters bottle in full folk-art form. With its slab-built body, wheel-thrown head, and hand-carved lettering, the piece blends humor, history, and technical finesse. The likeness is believed to reflect David Hostetter himself, complete with a cut-and-attached ceramic beard and embossed detailing that evokes antique bottle embossing. On the reverse, a sculpted version of the iconic Hostetter’s label features St. George slaying a dragon—a fitting symbol for a bitters formula that once fueled soldiers and promised cure-alls at 94-proof.

Specifications:
Handmade ceramic sculpture by Rurik Leif Kallis
Inspired by 19th-century Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters bottles
Clay slab and wheel-thrown construction
Applied text, reverse label, and symbolic imagery
Approximate dimensions: [please confirm]
One-of-a-kind vintage folk art

Dimensions:  28.5 in H x 11 in W x 7.5 in D

 
Additional Information

Dr. J. Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters was a Civil War-era patent medicine with roots in Pennsylvania and a stronghold in pop culture thanks to its high alcohol content and bold advertising. Kallis’s sculpture playfully honors that legacy—celebrating both the artistry of ceramic form and the quackery of America’s medicine-show past. The warm brown glaze recalls earthy tonic ingredients, while the unglazed head adds realistic character. A witty, historically grounded piece that bridges folk charm and social commentary.

Bring home this richly detailed homage to early American advertising and folk medicine. A sculptural standout for collectors of ceramic art, medical history, or Americana.