Flask 1825 - 1860

This glass flask, standing at six and a half inches tall, was created by the Kentucky Glass Works between 1850 and 1855. Flasks like these were more than just utilitarian objects; they were cultural artifacts reflecting the intricate dance between nationalism and personal identity. The imagery of the American eagle, surrounded by stars, speaks volumes about the prevailing patriotic sentiments of the mid-19th century. Yet, consider the context: the Kentucky Glass Works existed during a period of immense social and political upheaval, as the wounds of slavery and the looming Civil War threatened to tear the nation apart. In what ways did the common consumer reconcile these grand national ideals with the harsh realities of the time? Did owning such an item reinforce a sense of belonging, or did it provoke a sense of dissonance? Perhaps it was a bit of both, a tangible expression of the contradictions inherent in the American experience.