Description

Amber glass corked flask with eagle, shield and stars emblazoned on one side and the reverse has bust of George Washington with his name as “General Washington”. Measures about 8 1/2″ tall. This flask was very popular during the war as both sides claimed the birthright to the Revolution and Founding Father’s legacy for their cause. Eagle flasks were made by various makers in various forms with a small multitude of reverse motifs during the war. They were popular in many circles and even documented as put in use for canteens by soldiers in the field, especially in the early war period. Placed in the haversack or even carried in a woven sling they were employed as inexpensive alternatives for a war thought to be short lived. Made of fairly thick glass they actually were somewhat durable.(see historical references – GCWB by Russel, and CWC by Jones) In later years they still proved popular to carry all forms of liquid refreshment. As now, they were primarily originally sold by merchants during the period in an empty state, although sutlers were known to sell them filled with cheap escapes. As was with most of them, the bust forms tend to be a rather crude yet recognizable likeness. Patriotic flasks like these were in vogue in decades before the war and after and have been reproduced several times, some by well known higher quality makers and have become collectible in their own right, as vintage reproduction glassware. We have purchase many period appropriate forms when we find them at affordable prices for our customers. Found a small quantity of this particular design c. 1960s in mint condition.