Offered is an authentic mid-19th century American mold-blown utility flask, dating to approximately 1845–1865.
This flask was produced in a two-piece body mold with a hand-tooled applied finish, a standard factory method prior to the advent of fully machine-made bottles. A vertical mold seam is visible running up the body and into the neck, confirming mold-blown manufacture, while the lip was finished by hand.
The base features an intentional impressed single-letter “F”, believed to be a factory, mold, or batch identifier used by American glasshouses of the period. The base is smoothly finished, not pontiled.
Details:
- Color: rich amber with darker base shading
- Height: approx. 6½–7 inches
- Form: flattened oval / coffin-style utility flask
- Manufacture: mold-blown body, hand-tooled finish
- Era: ca. 1845–1865
- Origin: American factory glasshouse
Condition:
Museum-quality example. No cracks, chips, or repairs. Typical minor bubbles and internal striations consistent with period glassmaking. Exceptionally clean and well-preserved for its age.
This is a genuine pre-machine antique flask.
Market Value (2026, Honest Retail & Auction)
Fair Market Range
$175 – $275 USD
Why it sits here:
Adds value
- Early mold-blown, pre-machine era
- Attractive amber color
- Coffin/utility form (collected category)
- Excellent condition
Limits value
- No pictorial embossing
- No known maker attribution
- Letter base rather than named mold
Where It Would Sell Best
- Glass/Flask specialist auction: upper end ($240–$275)
- Private collector sale / antique show: $200–$250
- General online marketplace: $175–$225
Final Summary
Mid-19th-century American mold-blown amber utility flask, ca. 1845–1865, excellent condition, letter-base “F” mold mark.
Realistic value: ~$200–$250