c1820-50 Free blown amber brown American handled Chestnut Flask

For example, the perfect chestnut shape is not a natural by product of glass blowing and requires altering the bottle as it is being blown when there is no mold to restrict and force the glass into a specific shape. If one looks closely at the neck where it meets the flaring shoulder using raking light, one will see the fine striations left behind by the tool used by the worker to keep the neck from becoming too broad and too tall, while at the same time allowing the body to expand rapidly below the neck. Fine striations also continue for about 3/4 inches on the upper shoulder indicating that the bottle's shape was controlled by the glass blower rather than a mold. The remainder of the body below the upper shoulder has no striations from being worked by a tool and exhibits no mold seams. After the glass blower formed the neck, he would have flatten two sides of the round bottle to create the chestnut shape. Once the proper chestnut shape and neck length were complete, the glass worker would have snapped off the blow pipe at the spot where he would come back to form the lip. The blow pipe portion removed would be reheated and then stuck onto the bottom of the flask so that the worker could finish the bottle. The point where the reheated end of the glass blow pipe would be attached to the base of the bottle would create the open ring pontil after it was snapped off at the end of production. The ring pontil is in fact the same diameter as the open lip since the blow pipe was reused as a pontil rod for holding the flask when its string rim and handle were applied and its lip fire polished.

Once the glass blow pipe was attached to the bottom of the partially flattened `chestnut' flask, the sharp end of the neck where the blow pipe had been cracked off was fire polished to make a safe pouring lip. Also, the end of the neck was heated again and a ribbon of glass was wrapped around the neck just below the lip to form the rectangular ring that completed the lip. This ring of glass provided a way to secure a cork using wire or foil by wrapping it under the ring. The worker who added this ring of glass used his pincers to make the ring uniform and squared, which was yet another step taken to form the product. In the 1860s and 1870s, new tools were developed that helped glass workers form this string rims and lips however the bottle listed here was made before these advances had been perfected. After the ribbon of glass had been quickly worked into a rectangular ring, the glass worker took a thicker ribbon of glass and fashioned it into the handle. Once again, this glass worker's skill is very apparent and the upper end of the glass ribbon is larger and forms a trefoil terminal that covers the squared ring and secured the glass handle to the upper neck and rim (see all photos). The lower end of the glass ribbon is sheared and then turned back on itself to form a rolled terminal at the junction of the shoulder and upper body of the flask. This rolled terminal is hollow and light passes through it when viewed in profile (see photo close-up of rolled lower handle terminal).

This is a wonderful hand blown and free formed chestnut flask with applied handle that would have been common among the glass bottles found across the United States in the first and second quarter of the nineteenth century (i.e., 1810 to 1850). The amber red tones of the brown glass in this bottle make it ideal for displaying along a window sill, mantle or in a cabinet that catches sunlight daily. There are no makers names or factory marks that identify the glass works that made this flask. Bottle glass works from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New England and Ohio produced brown glass bottles and flasks like this one from about 1810 to 1860. The last photo shows this handled chestnut flask standing in between a Paul Jones Pure Rye (applied glass seal) amber bottle (on left side, c1885) and a C.W. Merchant Lockport Green bottle (on right side, c1860) for comparison only and these other bottles are not for sale here. You are only purchasing the handled amber brown flask discussed above and shown all by itself in the other eight photographs. And as noted above, this particular chestnut flask is a wonderful example in a pleasing amber-brown glass color. It is in perfect condition with no chips, proper wear and no major scratches (see full Condition notes given farther below). A better example of glass craftsmanship would be hard to find without paying more than what is offered here. And as always, this handled chestnut flask also comes with my Docs Antiques 100% satisfaction guarantee or you may return it using my return policy for a refund (see full Return Policy details farther below).

SIZE: This handled flask stands about 8 5/8 inches to the very top of its handle and has a maximum width of 6 inches wide. It measures about 3 1/8 inches deep from front to back (this occurs at its base). The lip measures about 1 inch wide (maximum outer diameter at pouring mouth) and has an inner opening of 3/4 inches across. The bottle sits on a worn oval base that is 3 3/4 inches by 2 1/2 inches. The bottle weighs 1 lbs empty and is a perfect size for displaying on a shelf, window ledge, mantle, counter, table or bar and will certainly capture attention in most any setting.

CONDITION: This glass bottle is in excellent condition with no major scratches and no chips, no hairlines, no star cracks, no broken glass bubbles, no stains or interior haziness, and no repairs or restorations. The lip and handle are perfect and the base exhibits appropriate wear from some 160 to 200 years of use and safe care. Of course, if the buyer is not 100% satisfied, then she/he may return this flask for a refund (see our refund policy noted below).

SHIPPING: All US mainland buyers pay $11.70 for well packed and insured USPS Priority Mail (this is an estimated savings of about $2 to $5 since insurance is also INCLUDED in the above quoted amount for all mainland US addresses). If you live in Texas or in an adjacent state, simply email me for a revised quote. No handling or packing fees are ever charged and fragile items will be double packed for maximum protection. All international buyers will pay only the exact shipping costs for all verifiable locations outside the continental US mainland. Also, please note that International import duties, taxes and other charges are not included in the item price or shipping costs and these additional charges are the Buyer's responsibility. We do offer a petition for VAT relief on the behalf of the buyer which may help reduce certain import taxes should your country allow such petitions for items over 100 years old. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to purchasing this item -- thanks.

RETURN POLICY: Satisfaction and peace of mind are guaranteed for all Docs Antiques Ruby Lane listings -- please refer directly to our Service Pledge and our Return Policy for full details. And this means that if the buyer is unhappy with the purchase, then she/he may return it by sending the item back undamaged and post marked within ten days of original receipt for a refund (certain shipping costs are non-refundable). Items damaged by shipping in the US are covered by insurance and while this rarely happens because we double pack, we will gladly help you file your insurance claim should it ever be necessary (we have not had any claims for damage or loss in over six years). Of course, never send an item back that has been damaged by shipping since that will void the original insurance. Instead, contact us for help and we will gladly assist.

PAYMENT OPTIONS: We accept checks on US Banks (no temporary checks, all checks must have 9 digit routing code; item ships after check fully clears), USPS money orders, PayPal or contact us with your verified address for more options. If you wish to use a credit card by way of Paypal, that option becomes available after you submit a Ruby Lane purchase order (see Terms of Sale for additional information). Once submitted, a PayPal icon will appear at the bottom of this listing and then you may proceed from there if you wish to pay via Paypal. Thanks for looking and do come back and visit again when you have the time.

Item ID: RL559.a1434