Figured flask 1847

The Dyottville Glass Works made this figured flask around 1833, most likely from soda-lime glass. Look closely and you will notice that this wasn’t just any glass bottle; it was made in a two-part mold, with the image of George Washington and the inscription “The Father of His Country.” Given the history of glassblowing, this would have required a division of labor. Some workers prepared the molten glass; others blew it into the mold, and still others finished the piece. Note the pale green hue of the glass, which isn’t a defect, but a result of the raw materials available at the time. Glass production in the 19th century was a dirty, dangerous, and physically demanding job. These flasks weren't considered high art, but were rather utilitarian objects made in large numbers for everyday use. Yet their very ubiquity gives them social significance. So, next time you look at an example of glassblowing, remember to consider not just the form, but the conditions of its making, and the context in which it was used.