Flask 1831 - 1840

This light blue flask was produced by Coffin & Hay Glassworks sometime between 1831 and 1857. It's made of molded glass, a material whose inherent qualities of transparency and fragility are essential to its appeal. The flask’s production involved skilled glassworkers using molds to create the desired shape, in this case, a flattened oval adorned with decorative motifs. You can see a spread-winged eagle on either side, combined with a starburst design at the base. These symbolic elements point to the flask’s cultural significance as an object of American pride. Although seemingly simple, the making of this flask involved teamwork, timing, and careful control of temperature to avoid imperfections. Its existence speaks to the rise of industrialization and mass production in the 19th century. Objects like this flask remind us that even everyday items can be carriers of cultural meaning and indicators of wider social transformations.