Flasks

Flasks have become a most popular and prized item among collectors due to the variety of decorative, historical, and pictorial depictions on many pieces. The outstanding colors have a major effect on the value of these pieces, more so than most other collectible bottles.

American flasks were first manufactured by the Pitkin Glasshouse in Connecticut around 1815, and quickly spread to other glasshouses around the country. Early flasks were freeblown and represent some of the better craftsmanship with more intricate designs. By 1850, approximately 400 designs had been used. Black graphite pontil marks were left on the bottles because the pontils were coated with powdered iron, allowing the flask’s bottom to break away without damaging the glass. The flasks made between 1850 and 1870, however, had no such markings because of the widespread use of the newly invented snapcase.

Since flasks were intended to be refi lled with whiskey or other spirits, more time and effort was expended in manufacturing than most other types of bottles. Flasks soon became a popular item for use with all types of causes and promotions. Mottos frequently were embossed on flasks and included a number of patriotic sayings and slogans. George Washington’s face commonly appeared on flasks, as did Andrew Jackson’s and John Quincy Adams’s, the candidates for the presidential elections of 1824 and 1828. Events of the time were also portrayed on flasks.

One of the more controversial flasks was the Masonic flasks, which bore the order’s emblem on one side and the American eagle on the other side. At first, the design drew strong opposition from the public, but the controversy soon passed, and Masonic flasks are now a specialty items for collectors.

Another highly collectible flask was the Pitkin-type flasks named for the Pitkin Glassworks, where it was exclusively manufactured. While Pitkin-type flask and ink bottles are common, Pitkin bottles, jugs, and jars are very rare. German Pitkin flasks are heavier and straight-ribbed, while the American patterns are swirled and broken-ribbed with unusual colors such as dark blue.

Because flasks were widely used for promoting various political and special interest agendas, they represent a major historical record of the people and events of those times.

Label under glass, A Merry Christmas / Happy New Year, clear glass, 6", American $500-700.

Label under glass, A Merry Christmas / And / Happy New Year, Good Luck, clear glass, 6-1/8", American $150-200.

A. Livingston – Wholesale & Retail – Carson City, Nev, clear, pint, American 1865-1875, $1,000-1,300.

A Merry Christmas – And Happy New Year (label under glass with Santa Claus)

Clear, 6", smooth base, screw top with cap, ground lip American 1905-1915$1,000-1,300

A Merry Christmas – Cooking Good Stuff – Happy New Year (label under glass)

Clear, 6", smooth base, screw top with pewter cap, ground lip American 1905-1915 $550-650

A. Livingston – Wholesale and Retail – Carson City, Nev

Clear, pint, smooth base, tooled top, rare, American 1885-1905$1,000-1,300

A.M. Smith’s – A.D. 1892 249 Hen. Av. – Minneapolis Minn. – California Wine Depot

Clear, 4-1/2", pumpkinseed form, smooth base, tooled top, American 1880-1895$100-160

H.C. Heidtmann – Becker’s – Reno, Nev

Clear, half-pint, coffin flask form, smooth base, tooled top, American 1900-1918$650-850

Baltimore / Anchor / Glass Works – Bird Above Flames / Resurgam

Yellow amber, pint, smooth base, applied double collar mouth, scarce color, American 1865-1870, Baltimore Glass Works, Baltimore, Maryland$500-800

Bininger’s / Travelers / Guide / A.M. Bininger &Co. / No 19 Broad St. NY, medium golden amber, 6-7/8", American 1860-1875, $600-800.

Columbus / bust of Columbus coming out of a barrel / on a barrel (rooster), pale aqua, 5-3/4", American 1890-1900, $300-400.

Bininger’s / Travelers / Guide / A.M. Bininger & Co / No 19 Broad St NY

Medium golden amber, 6-7/8", teardrop flask, smooth base, applied double collar mouth, American 1860-1875.$600-800

Bust of Man in Military Uniform – Falcon with Crown

Cobalt blue, pint, pontil-scarred base, sheared and tooled mouth, European 1840-1860$180-250

Bust of Columbia – Eagle / B&W

Blue aqua, pint, open pontil, sheared and tooled lip, American 1835-1845 $275-375

Bust Of Washington – Tree

Cobalt blue, calabash, open pontil, applied mouth, extremely rare, one of three known examples, American 1855-1860$15,000-20,000

But For Joe (in banner) Woman on a Bicycle

Blue aqua, pint, smooth base, applied ringed mouth, American 1875-1885.$200-250

Columbus / (bust of Columbus coming out of a barrel) on a Barrel – (rooster)

Pale aqua, 5-3/4", half-barrel form, smooth base, tooled lip, rare, American 1890-1900$300-400

Columbian Exposition / Bust Of Columbus / 1893 / A.E. Bros & Co – Pennsylvania / Pure Rye / Baker Whiskey

Amber, 6-3/4", pumpkinseed form, smooth base, tooled mouth, rare, American 1893-1895$400-600

Exchange – Flood & Barks Props. – Main 187 – Bakes-fi eld, clear, pumpkinseed, pint, American 1870-1885, $100-150.

G. Lewis – Liquor Co. – Silver State – Victor, Colo., clear, half-pint, American 1870-1880, $700-1,000.

Eagle / C.T. Bond (in circle) – C.T. Bond / Merchant & Trader / New Albany / Miss

Yellow with amber tone, half-pint, smooth base, applied ringed mouth, extremely rare, one of two known examples, American 1865-1875$5,000-7,000

Eagle / Granite / Glass Co – Eagle / Stoddard N.H.

Deep amber, pint, pontil-scarred base, sheared and tooled mouth, American 1850-1860$300-400

Eagle – New London / (anchor) Glass Works (historical flask)

Brilliant yellow olive, pint, large red iron pontil mark, applied double collared mouth, rare color and rare iron pontil, American 1856-1860, New London Glass Works, New London, Connecticut$2,000-4,000

Eagle – Morning Glory

Blue aqua, pint, pontil-scarred base, sheared and tooled lip, American 1830-1840.$700-1,000

Eagle (embossed) – Louisville / KY / Glass Works

Dark amber, half-pint, vertically ribbed flask, smooth base, applied top with ring, American 1860-1865.$1,500-3,000

Exchange – Flood & Barks Prop. – Tel. Main 187 – Bakersfield

Clear, pint, pumpkinseed form, smooth base, tooled top, American 1885-1895.$100-160

Frank Abadie – Wholesale Liquors – Eureka, Nev

Clear, pint, smooth base, tooled top, American 1884 -1886$100-1600

G. Lewis – Liquor – Co. – Silver State – Victor, Colo

Clear, half-pint, smooth base, tooled top, American 1880-1895$700-1,000

Corn For The World / ear of corn / monument / Baltimore, deep pink puce, quart, American 1865-1875, $2,500-4,000.

Geo. W. Robinson / Dog’s Head / No 8 Main St / Wheeling W. VA

Blue aqua, strap-sided pint, smooth base, applied mouth, American 1870-1880$150-200

Geo. W. Robinson / No 75 / Main St. W. VA

Blue aqua, strap-sided quart, smooth base, applied mouth, American 1870-1880$140-180

Grotesque Face – Two Men Talking

Cobalt blue, half-pint, pontil-scarred base, sheared and tooled lip, rare, European 1850-1860 $400-600

Henry Chapman & Co. – Sole Agents – Montreal

Golden amber, 5-3/4", teardrop form, smooth base, ground lip, American 1870-1885$75-100

In Silver We Trust / Bust Of Bryan / Bryan 1896 Sewall – United Democratic Ticket / We Shall Vote / American Eagle / 61 to 1

Medium amber, half-point, 5-1/4", smooth base, tooled lip, rare political flask made for the Presidential election of 1896, American 1896$600-800

Isabella / Anchor / Glass Works – Factory

Blue aqua, quart, open pontil, sheared and tooled lip, American 1855-1865$275-375

J.R. & Son – Scroll Flask

Pale Ice blue, pint, scroll in a corseted form, pontil-scarred base, sheared top, American 1830-1840, John Robinson and Son Manufacturers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania$350-750

Label Under Glass Pocket Flask – Photograph of Gentlemen – Compliments of J.P. Haddox – Winchester, VA

Clear, 5", smooth base, screw top lid with cap, American 1885-1915$1,500-1,600

Label Under Glass Pocket Flask – Victorian Man and Woman Holding Hands

Clear, 5", smooth base, screw top lid with cap, American 1885-1915$450-550

Label Under Glass Pocket Flask – Photograph of Victorian Woman

Clear, 5", smooth base, screw top lid with cap, American 1885-1910$1,700-1,900

Label Under Glass Pocket Flask – Photograph of Beautiful Woman – For Fine Old Rye Whiskey

Clear, 5", smooth base, screw top lid with cap, American 1885-1910$600-800

Label Under Glass Pocket Flask – Photograph of Naval Officer – Remember The Maine

Clear, 5-1/4", smooth base, screw top lid with cap, American 1885-1915$600-800

Label Under Glass Pocket Flask – Photograph of Provocative Posing Woman

Clear, 5-3/4", smooth base, screw top lid with cap, American 1885-1910$1,700-1,900

Label Under Glass Pocket Flask – Kaiser Wilhelm I.

Denkmal A.D. Wittekinberg B / Perta Building

Clear, 5-3/4", smooth base, screw top lid with cap, American 1885-1920 $90-110

Label Under Glass Pocket Flask – Photograph of Provocative Posing Woman

Clear, 6", smooth base, screw top lid with cap, American 1880-1905$1,500-1,700

Label Under Glass Pocket Flask – Photograph of Provocative Woman in Attire

Clear, 6", smooth base, screw top lid with cap, American 1885-1910$1,100-1,300

Label Under Glass Pocket Flask – Beautiful Woman Lifting Up Her Dress

Clear, 6", smooth base, screw top lid with cap, American 1885-1920$1,300-1,400

Label Under Glass Pocket Flask – Beautiful Victorian Woman Holding Roses

Clear, 6", smooth base, screw top lid with cap, American 1885-1915$600-800

Label Under Glass Pocket Flask – G.W. Schmidt / Merry Christmas / (pretty woman in Victorian dress) / Happy New Year / Pittsburgh, Pa

Clear glass, 6-1/4", horizontal side ribbing, smooth base, sheared and tooled lip, original metal screw cap and neck chain, extremely rare, American 1885-1910$700-900

Label Under Glass Pocket Flask – Theodore Roosevelt (Stars & Stripes background)

Clear, 6-1/2", smooth base, screw top lid with cap, American 1885-1920$450-550

Layfayette – Liberty Cap Portrait Flask

Brilliant aquamarine, half-pint, pontil-scarred base, sheared mouth, extremely rare, American 1824-1825 Coventry Glass Works, Coventry, Connecticut$5,000-10,000

Label under glass, G.W. Schmidt / Merry Christmas / pretty woman in Victorian dress / Happy New Year / Pittsburgh, PA, clear glass, 6-1/4", American 1885-1910, $700-900.

A Merry Christmas (woman on a barrel) / And A / Happy New Year (rooster), clear glass, 7-3/4", American 1890-1900, $150-200.

Liberty / Eagle – Willington / Glass / Co / West Wil-lington / Conn

Olive amber, half-pint, smooth base, applied double collar mouth, American 1855-1875 $200-250

M. Heims – 139 – Washington St. Indianapolis

Clear, half-pint, pumpkinseed form, lattice design, smooth base, tooled top, American 1895-1905$100-120

Mellow Rib Pattern Flask

Yellow green, pint, 6-1/4", 20-vertical rib pattern, pontil-scarred base, sheared and tooled lip, American 1820-1830$800-1,200

Merry Christmas – And – Happy New Year

Clear, 4", half-pint, floral design and decoration, smooth base, tooled top, American 1885-1895$100-200

Mountain Dew (label under glass with pretty woman)

Clear, pint, smooth base, screw top (with cap), American 1910-1930$150-250

Nailsea Flask

Clear glass with white looping, 6-3/8", polished pontil, tooled mouth, European 1850-1880$150-250

North / American (inside map of North America) / Pan-American / South / American (inside a map of South America)

Clear, 7", smooth base, ground lip, original metal screw-on cap and screw-on shot glass cover, American 1901$350-450

Old Rye – Wheeling / VA

Medium blue green, pint, smooth base, applied mouth, rare, American 1865-1875 $600-800

Patent – Label reads: Cognac Brandy, George L.

Forbush, Pharmacist, Petersboro, New Hampshire

Yellow amber, pint, smooth base, applied double collar mouth, American 1870-1880$150-200

Pattern Molded Flask

Clear, 7-3/8", 19-ogival pattern, pontil-scarred base, sheared and tooled wide mouth, American 1815-1825$400-700

Pike’s Peak / Prospector – Eagle

Deep blue aqua, quart, pontil-scarred base, applied mouth, American 1870-1875$140-180

Pitkin Flask

Dark amber, 5-3/4", pint, 36 ribs swirled to the left, flattened clockface form, pontil-scarred base, sheared top, American 1800-1830$500-1,000

Pitkin Flask

Light green aqua, 5-3/8", 30-broken rib pattern swirled to right, open pontl, sheared and tooled lip, American 1790-1810$400-600

Pitkin Flask

Medium yellow olive green, 5-3/4", 36-broken rib pattern swirled to right, open pontil, sheared and tooled lip, American 1790-1810 $600-800

Pitkin Flask with early label (Bourbon Whiskey / Sold by Frank R. Hadley / Druggist & Chemist / New Bedford, Mass

Light olive green, 7", ribbed and swirled to left, 36-ribs, pontil-scarred base, sheared mouth, American 1783-1830, Pitkin Glass Works, Manchester, Connecticut $1,250-2,500

Popular – Cocktails – Rheinstron Bros. – Cincinnati USA – (two drinks embossed on reverse side)

Clear, half-pint, horseshoe shape, smooth base, screw top with pewter cap and ground and polished lip, American 1905-1915$75-120

Return To Joe Gribble – Old Crow Saloon – Douglas, AZ.

Clear, 6", half-pint, smooth base, screw top cap with ground lip, very rare, American 1903 $3,500-4,500

Scroll Flask

Medium to deep amber, pint, red iron pontil, applied mouth, American 1845-1855$1,200-1,500

Scroll Flask

Deep teal blue, pint, pontil-scarred base, sheared and tooled lip, American 1845-1855$4,000-5,000

Sloop / Star

Aqua, half-pint, open pontil, sheared and tooled lip, American 1825-1835$150-200

Soldier / Balt. MD – Ballet Dancer / Chapman

Emerald green, pint, open pontil, sheared and tooled lip, rare, American 1850-1865, Chapman’s Maryland Glass Works$1,400-1,800

Spring Garden / Anchor / Glass Works – Cabin

Orange amber, pint, smooth base, applied double collar mouth, American 1860-1870, Spring Garden Glassworks, Baltimore, Maryland $700-1,000

Patrick Smith - 1313 - Sec. Ave. - NW Corner 69th St. - New York - One - Half Pint - Full Measure, 1890-1910, half-pint, $80-150.

Spirits Flask (blown)

Fiery opalescent milk glass, 4-5/8", multicolored enamel floral and bird decorations, rectangular with beveled corner panes, pontil-scarred base, sheared lip, original pewter mouth band, blown using German half-post method, German 1770-1800.$400-600

Sprits Flask (blown)

Deep cobalt blue, 5-3/8", multicolored enamel decorations of a man in colonial dress holding a glass on one side and German script writing on other side, pontil-scarred base, sheared lip, original threaded pewter mouth band, blown using German half-post method, German 1770-1800$500-900

Sprits Flask (blown)

Light to medium cobalt blue, 6-7/8", tight broken rib-pattern slightly swirled to right, pontil-scarred base, tooled mouth, blown using German half-post method, European 1770-1800$275-375

Spirits Flask

Sapphire blue, 6-1/4", white looping conical form tapering from a larger base to smaller neck, pontil-scarred base, applied pewter mouth with screw threads, Southern German 1760-1780$2,500-3,500

Separation of Military Duty – Wer-breu gedient hal seine Zeit Dem sei einvoller Kruggeweihl (He who diligently gave his time deserves a drink. Drink to this. In memory of the time I served in Cuxhaven 1907-10), milk glass, German 1910, $140-180.

Spirits Flask

Light purple amethyst, 7-5/8", white looping, rectangular form with wide beveled corner panels, pontil-scarred base, applied pewter mouth with screw threads, Southern German 1760-1780 $1,200-1,600

Spirits Flask

Deep cobalt blue, 7-5/8", white looping, rectangular form with wide beveled corner panels, pontil-scarred base, applied pewter mouth with screw threads, Southern German 1760-1780 $1,400-1,800

Spirits Flask

Purple amethyst, 7-1/2", white herringbone pattern, pontil-scarred base, applied pewter mouth with screw threads, Southern German 1760-1780$800-1,200

Spirits Flask

Honey amber, 6", white looping, rectangular form with wide beveled corner panels, pontil-scarred base, applied pewter mouth with screw threads, Southern German 1760-1780$1,200-1,600

Standing Deer / Good / Game – Willow Tree

Aqua, pint, open pontil, sheared and tooled lip, American 1825-1835, Coffi n & Hays Glass Works, Hammonton, New Jersey$275-375

Standing Stag – Boar’s Head, Horn, Rifle and Sword

Purple amethyst, 5-3/8", pontil-scarred base, inward rolled lip, European 1840-1870$400-600

Stiegel-Type Spirits Flask

Clear, 4-3/4", multi-colored enamel decoration of a rabbit playing a drum on one side and German script on the other side, scarred base, tooled mouth with original pewter neck ring, blown in Geman half-post method, German 1770-1810$350-450

Stiegiel-Type Spirits Flask

Deep purple amethyst, 5-3/4", 1-rib pattern swirled to left, pontil-scarred base, tooled lip, blown in German half-post method, German 1780-1810$500-700

Summer Tree – Winter Tree

Yellow olive, quart, pontil-scarred base, applied double collar mouth, rare, American 1850-1860 $2,500-3,500

Sunburst Flask

Medium olive green, half-pint, pontil-scarred base, tooled mouth, American 1815-1825$500-700

Sunburst flask, 1850-1850, 5-5/8", $300-400.

The Waldorf & Tavern – Reno, Nevada, clear, 10 oz., American 1910, $200-250.

Sunburst Flask

Medium yellow olive amber, half-pint, pontil-scarred base, tooled mouth, American 1815-1825 $500-700

Scroll Flask

Yellow green, quart, iron pontil, sheared lip, American 1840-1850$500-700

The Log Cabin (embossed log cabin) – 167-3rd St. Portland Ore. – Billy Winters Pro

Clear, pint, pumpkinseed form, smooth base, tooled top, American 1885-1895$325-425

The Waldorf Cafes – Becker Bros. Inc. – San Francisco – Los Angeles – San Diego – 1915

Clear, pint, smooth base, tooled top, American 1915$100-120

The Waldorf & Tavern – Reno, Nevada

Clear, 10 oz., smooth base, tooled top, American 1910-1915$200-250

The – F.G. McCoy Co. Inc – The Wellington Saloon – Prescott, Ariz.

Clear, 6", half-pint, smooth base (Design Pat. Aug 9, 1898), tooled top, American 1902-1906$700-900

Thos. Taylor & Co – Sole Agents P. Vollmer’s Old Bourbon Louisville – Virginia, Nev.

Clear, pint, coffi n flask form, smooth base, tooled top, American 1867-1883$1,000-2,000

Traveler’s / Star / Companion – Ravenna / Star / Glass Co.

Blue aqua, pint, smooth base, applied ringed mouth, American 1855-1870$150-250

Traveler’s / Companion – Star

Deep amber, half-pint, iron pontil, sheared and tooled mouth, American 1850-1860$500-700

Union / Clasped Hands / FA & CO / Cannon

Amber, pint, smooth base, applied ringed mouth, American 1860-1870, Fahnestock, Albree & Co.

Glassworks, Pittsburgh, PA$275-375

Union Saloon – John Flack Propr. – San Bernardino

Deep purple, pint, smooth base, tooled top with glass stopper, American 1885-1905$350-450

Vertical Rib Pattern Flask with Oval Indented Panels

Aqua, pint, 8", pontil-scarred base, sheared and tooled lip, American 1835-1845, Louisville Glass Works, Louisville, Kentucky$200-275

Wharton’s / Whisky / 1850 / Chestnut Grove, cobalt blue, 5-3/8", American 1855-1870, $350-450.

Wharton’s / Whisky / 1850 / Chestnut Grove, dark amber, 5-1/4", American 1855-1870, $250-350.

Zanesville / City / Glassworks, yellow amber, pint, rare, American 1875-1885, $500-700.

W.A. Gaines & Cos. – The Capitol Old Crow Whiskey – Cheyenne Wyo.

Clear, pint, smooth base, screw top, American 1900-1920$100-200

Washington Bar – Coleman & Granger – To-nopah, Nevada

Clear, pint, smooth base, screw top, American 1905-1806$300-500

Westford Glass / Westford / Conn – Sheaf Of Grain

Dark amber, half-pint, smooth base, applied double collar mouth, American 1855-1865$120-160

Wharton’s Whisky – 1850 Chestnut Grove

Medium cobalt blue, 5-1/4", teardrop form, smooth base, applied lip, American 1865-1875$350-550

Zanesville / City / Glassworks

Yellow amber, pint, smooth base, applied mouth, rare, American 1875-1885, Zanesville Glass Works, Zanesville, Ohio$500-700