Flask, 1836-1840

Glass factories in America began producing inexpensive, mold-formed flasks in the early 1800s. These figured flasks, often decorated with symbols of national pride or political or cultural affiliation, appealed to America's common man. Many flasks, like this one, contain images of an eagle -- a symbol for America. The grapes, on the reverse, refer to agriculture and perhaps the flask's alcoholic content.