American glass factories produced flasks, like this one, from the late 1700s well into the mid-1800s. The pint-sized flask could hold water but more likely contained alcoholic beverages. Its textured decorative exterior -- formed when the hot glass was dipped into a pattern mold before it was blown -- made the flask easier to grasp. And its flattened shape fit nicely into pockets providing ready access to the liquid refreshment.