Calabash Bottle, 1850-1855

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. Hunting and fishing themes were also popular. This calabash -- a gourd-like form popular in the mid-19th century -- probably attracted the attention of sportsmen or those who made a living by capturing wild game.