Case bottles were designed for easy and efficient transportation. Their square bodies with flat, rectangular sides packed neatly into wooden boxes or cases. Case bottles were common from the 1600s into the 1900s and usually held gin or other alcoholic or medicinal spirits.

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. This Baltimore-made flask's slogan while referencing the alcoholic content also points to the importance of the Maryland city in the world grain trade.

Glass factories in America began producing inexpensive, mold-formed flasks in the early 1800s. These figured flasks often were decorated with symbols of national pride. Other flasks, like this one, contain images of foreign newsmakers. Many Americans embraced Louis Kossuth, a mid-century Hungarian patriot and revolutionist. Kossuth arrived in the U. S. in 1851 after a failed attempt to set up a democratic Hungarian state.

Glass factories in America began producing inexpensive, mold-formed flasks in the early 1800s. These figured flasks, often decorated with symbols of national or civic pride, appealed to America's common man. Citizens of Baltimore, Maryland, would have recognized the image of the city's Washington Monument on this locally made flask. And the sloop would have been a familiar sight to those living in this port city.

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. The clasping hands, shield and eagle represent the Union -- a cause many Americans fought to uphold during the Civil War.

Abraham Bininger established a grocery business in New York City in the late 1700s. Family descendants carried on the trade into the late 1800s, selling alcoholic spirits in bottles with a variety of shapes. The bottles were often embossed with Bininger's name and description of the contents.

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 traditional symbol for America. The overflowing cornucopia found on the other side of this flask alludes to America's bounty.

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 traditional symbol for America.

Americans in the mid-to-late 19th century purchased a variety of pickled and preserved foods in inexpensive, commercially made glass containers. Though cheap, some of these utilitarian bottles were distinctive in their decorations. This gothic-inspired bottle with its pointed arches and trefoils appealed to the tastes of many 19th-century middle class Americans and was found sitting on pantry and cupboard shelves, or atop kitchen tables.

Glass factories in America began producing inexpensive, mold-formed flasks in the early 1800s. These figured flasks appealed to America's common man. Many of these flasks contained symbols of national pride or political or cultural affiliation. Embellishments on other flasks, like this one, were purely decorative.

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 traditional symbol for America.

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.

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.

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.

Americans in the mid-to-late 19th century purchased a variety of pickled and preserved foods in inexpensive, commercially made glass containers. Though cheap, some of these utilitarian bottles were distinctive in their decorations. This gothic-inspired bottle with its pointed arches and trefoils appealed to the tastes of many 19th-century middle class Americans and was found sitting on pantry and cupboard shelves, or atop kitchen tables.

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.

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 traditional symbol for America.

Glass factories in America began producing inexpensive, mold-formed flasks in the early 1800s. These figured flasks appealed to America's common man. Many of these flasks contained symbols of national pride or political or cultural affiliation. Embellishments on other flasks, like this one, were purely decorative.

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 traditional symbol for America.

Glass factories in America began producing inexpensive, mold-formed flasks in the early 1800s. These figured flasks often were decorated with symbols of national pride or political or cultural affiliation. This late-century flask with its image of a hunting dog on the reverse may have appealed to hunters and sportsmen.

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. In the mid-1820s, General Lafayette, a French aristocrat who helped America win its independence, revisited the United States. His image adorned flasks commemorating his tour.

Glass factories in America began producing inexpensive, mold-formed flasks in the early 1800s. These figured flasks, often embellished with symbols of national pride or political or cultural affiliation, appealed to America's common man. Purely decorative flasks, however, were another option. These flasks -- like this sunburst-pattern one -- held alcohol just as well as those with images of great men or patriotic emblems.