GII-24 Double Eagle Historical Flask

GII – 24

Double Eagle Historical Flask


Possibly Kentucky Glass Works, Louisville, Kentucky

Olive-Yellow Pint

Provenance: Anonymous

Our pint GI-24 American eagle flask is called a “Double Eagle” as the same embossed eagle occurs on both sides of the flask. The flask can be found in a wide range of glass colors and was produced in the midwest, possibly at the Kentucky Glass Works in Louisville, Kentucky.

The American eagle was chosen to decorate more flasks than any other single motif in the entire repertoire of flask design elements. It is not hard to understand why, as our young country chose the American bald eagle as its emblem to signify strength, power, and sovereignty on the Great Seal of the United States.

GII-24 illustration – McKearin & Wilson

When looking at our museum flask, there is a large embossed American eagle that occurs in the oval facial panels on the obverse and reverse sides. The eagle’s head is turned to the left with its wings raised and spread. A ribbon extends from the eagle’s beak arching above the eagle. A distinct “U” character can be seen in the ribbon. Above the ribbon are two rows of arching four-pointed stars, eight stars above and six stars below. The breast shield has seven vertical bars. There are three arrows or thunderbolts in the right talon and an olive branch in the left talon. Below the talons is a horizontal oval outlined frame containing an eight-pointed star. Surrounding the eagle, stars, and oval, in a horseshoe configuration, is corrugated ribbing on the flask edges with a vertical medial rib. The flask has a plain lip and pontil mark.

Known glass colors for the Double Eagle flask are aqua which is very common; dark aqua which is considered common; light emerald green, clear green, yellow-green, and light blue are considered scarce; dark amber, dark amber (black), clear, olive-yellow, olive amber, olive green, clear, cornflower, and blue are rare while sapphire and moonstone are rated as very rare.

GII-24 Double Eagle flask in light sapphire blue

Support: Reference to American Bottles and Flasks and Their Ancestry by Helen McKearin and Kenneth M. Wilson, Crown Publishers Inc., New York, 1978.

Support Image: Auction Lot 10: Double Eagle Historical Flask, possibly Kentucky Glass Works, Louisville, Kentucky, 1840-1860. Medium golden amber, sheared mouth – pontil scar, pint; (minor high point wear). GII-24 An outstanding example. Fine condition. Rare color. – Norman Heckler, Norman C. Heckler & Company

Support Image: Auction Lot 52: Double Eagle Historical Flask, Kentucky Glass Works, Louisville, Kentucky, 1850-1860. Aquamarine, sheared mouth – pontil scar, pint; (1/8 inch open bubble on base edge). GII-24 Fine condition. A bright, clean flask. Mike Roberts collection. – Norman Heckler, Norman C. Heckler & Company

Support Image: Auction Lot 13: Double Eagle Historical Flask, possibly Kentucky Glass Works, Louisville, Kentucky, 1850-1855. Bright sapphire blue, sheared mouth – pontil scar, pint. GII-24 Good mold impression. Nice color. Fine condition. Ex Dr. Charles Osgood collection, ex Bob Mebane collection. – Norman Heckler, Norman C. Heckler & Company

Support Image: Auction Lot 74: Double Eagle Historical Flask, Kentucky Glass Works, Louisville, Kentucky, 1850-1855. Light blue-green, sheared mouth – pontil scar, pint; (light interior haze). GII-24 Outstanding bright color. Fine condition. – Norman Heckler, Norman C. Heckler & Company, Auction #167

Support Image: Auction Lot 92: Louisville Glass Works, Louisville, Kentucky, 1840-1860. Brilliant yellow-green, sheared mouth – pontil scar, pint; (shallow 3/8 inch flake from side of mouth, light exterior high point wear). GII-24 Beautiful, bright and rare color. Fine condition. This flask was given by George S. McKearin to his grandson, John MacMurtie, Jr. Ex George S. McKearin collection. – Norman Heckler, Norman C. Heckler & Company

Support Image: Auction Lot 30: Double Eagle Historical Flask, probably Kentucky Glass Works, Louisville, Kentucky, 1840-1860. Medium sapphire blue, sheared mouth – pontil scar, pint; (shallow 5/8 inch pontil scar flake comes to edge of base). GII-24 Eggshell thin glass and a beautiful light color from top to bottom. Fine condition. Ex Edmund and Jayne Blaske collection, Robert and Janice Weekes collection. – Norman Heckler, Norman C. Heckler & Company, Auction #167

Support Image: Auction Lot 18: EAGLE – EAGLE, (GII-24), Louisville Glass Works, Louisville, Kentucky, ca. 1834 – 1845, medium sapphire blue pint, open pontil, sheared lip. Lightly cleaned to remove a light exterior haze, traces of which remains in the recessed areas of the bold impression. A popular mold that occurs in a number of attractive colors with this one being the most sought after! – Jim Hagenbuch, Glass Works Auctions, Auction #98

Support Image: GII-24 Louisville Kentucky double eagle historical flask, pint, more sapphire blue tone, crisp, vibrant, great impression with strong color, a super example. The SAXE Collection – Glass International Auction 24

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