Description

This is about as nice as it gets for this well documented mid 19th century type of drinking flask. Typical blown in the mold glass vessel with applied pewter screw top mouth and lid. Upper half of flask is covered in beautiful tightly woven wicker and the bottom is protected with a slip-on pewter drinking cup. The woven wicker on this flask is just gorgeous with wonderful age patina yet pristine condition with no damage or flaking like is so often seen. Woven into the upper half cover are little loops at the shoulders so one could attach a thin carrying strap or cord. These are almost always broken off, due to wear, even when no strap was ever in place. The cup is completely sound with nice outside patina but still bright inside. A few very minimal nicks and mars on the cap edge from honest use and storage. Original seal in the cap was a gutta percha ring which is dried and has one small piece missing. I have seen this type of seal in other documented Civil War era and pre-war era flasks and also inkwells. This can be easily fixed with a piece of sheet cork inside the lid should one desire to use the flask. This type of flask is documented in multiple CW collections and references with the wicker type having some associations with Southern provenance, although also known on both sides of the line and in all theaters. (CWCE) A rare opportunity – this is easily a 165.00+ flask. (CWPG – $225+ not that long ago)