**Originally Listed At $300**

North America, United States, ca. 1840s to 1860s CE. A stunning collection of 3 vessels known as scroll or violin flasks, all formed from translucent, aquamarine glass to present a flattened, triangular body with a brief shoulder, narrow, tubular neck, and circular rim. The largest bottle displays a collared rim, while the mouths of the 2 others are smooth. Though all 3 boast lovely, decorative relief patterns on each of their flat faces, the larger 2 or the 2 that are pint-sized are nearly identical; each face exhibiting parallel striations that mimic the shape of the vessel as well as 4 scroll motifs and a pair of stars, with 1 vessel having 8-pointed stars and the other having 7-pointed. Alternatively, each face of the most petite or half-pint-size glass bears a rare design of a central fleur de lis topped by an 8-pointed star and surrounded by curved lines and scrolling motifs. All 3 vessels possess large pontil marks on their bases, though the largest presents an iron pontil mark - a true signifier of its age! Size of largest: 4.8" W x 7.4" H (12.2 cm x 18.8 cm)

According to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, "Early glass tableware produced in full-sized molds in the United States is today known as "blown-molded" glass. This type of glass -- created by a glassmaker blowing a gather of glass encased inside a mold -- was principally made in the New England area. The mold for this flask was made of either iron or steel and consisted of two pieces joined together with a hinge, which allowed the mold to be reused again and again. The forms and decoration on figured flasks include a range of decorative motifs, Masonic symbols, historical and political figures, and pictorial groups. The variety of design and color represented on figured flasks is unparalleled in other categories of American blown-molded glass. Over eight hundred patterns have been recorded with decorations ranging in topic from portraits of American heroes and depictions of noteworthy events to unique designs notable for their variety. This decorative flask is known as a scroll or violin flask. Introduced around 1830, the form was popular through the 1840s and 50s. Scroll flasks were primarily made in half-pint, pint, and quart sizes in a range of colors. The flask's packaging marketed its contents -- generally whiskey, beer, or cider."

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 40.150.87 and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1938-23-16.8

Provenance: private Lumberton, Texas, USA collection, acquired before 2010

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#169322

Minor chipping to most petite flask. Otherwise, all are intact and excellent. Mid-size has old cork. All 3 have pontil mark on underside of base. A pontil scar or mark indicates that a vessel was free-blown, while the absence of such a mark suggests that the work was either mold-blown or that the mark was intentionally smoothed away or wore away over time. Largest has iron pontil mark.