Two nice pictures of a cobalt blue, Eagle Masonic historical flask were posted on facebook the other day by New Orleans, super collector Charles Aprill (2 l’s) that rocked the site prompting some high praise from all who viewed. This set of a few other collectors to post their examples such as Denver collector Sandor Fuss and Michael George. By coincidence there is also a nice example of an exotically colored example in the American Bottle Auctions | Auction 55 that concludes tomorrow evening (see auction example). This set my wheels in motion to gather available information and hone up on my limited knowledge of the great molds that I have always admired.
Two previous, rather well done articles about the Eagle Masonic historical flasks are referenced below. I strongly suggest that you check these out. They sure filled in a lot of missing gaps of information for me.
“they even have a separate category (Group IV) in the McKearin/Wilson flask classification scheme” – Kevin A. Sives
Read more: Masonic Glass & Blown, Bottles and Flasks by Kevin A. Sives
“The early Masonic lodges in the United States usually met in one room of a local tavern. These taverns were gathering places for exchanging news and gossip as well as for eating and drinking. At the taverns it was customary for a Mason to partake of the food and liquid refreshments, but each Mason was responsible for his own drinking habits. During this period of time Masonic flasks or pocket flasks, became common at Lodge meetings. Drinking and fellowship were enjoyed after the Masonic meetings were concluded” – Chuck Bukin
Read More: Mason Flasks – Pieces of History by Charles I. Bukin
Image from Masonic Glass & Blown, Bottles and Flasks by Kevin A. Sives
Image from Masonic Glass & Blown, Bottles and Flasks by Kevin A. Sives
Masonic Eagle JKB pint flask (GIV), very early and probably made in New England between 1815-1820
Masonic Eagle GIV-3, There is a nice piece about this flask in the Edmund & Jayne Blaske Auction catalog. Item #525. They got it from a Canadian dealer, sight unseen, for approval. Opened the package late one night, on returning from a trip, "weary". When he saw it, The Judge was "wide awake" and they stayed up several more hours " washing and admiring" the bottle. - Charles Aprill
Masonic Eagle GIV-3 - Charles Aprill
Masonic Eagle GIV-3 - Sandor Fuss
Masonic Eagle - Sandor Fuss
Masonic Arch and Emblems – Eagle Historical Flask, probably Keene Marlboro Street Glassworks, Keene, New Hampshire, 1820-1830. Light bluish green with wide profuse amethyst striations, heavy tooled round collared mouth – pontil scar, pint. Probably GIV-8 Beautiful bottle, great color, fine condition. A big heavy “2 pounder”. Ex Sam Laidacker.
MASONIC/EAGLE G-IV-1 Sheared and tooled mouth with pontil. 1822-40. Keene-Marlboro Street Glass Works. Once in a while an ultra rare bottle passes our way and this time it was all the way from England. I was contacted by a pottery collector from Manchester who happened to come across this GIV-1 Justus Perry flask in a beautiful medium to deep amethyst and deep cobalt blue at the top and near the bottom.
GIV-2 Eagle Masonic Historical Flask - photo Michael George
GIV-2 Eagle Masonic Historical Flask - photo Michael George
Eagle Masonic initial embossing GIV-1A - eBay
Keene Marlboro Street Glassworks GIV-5 Keene, New Hampshire, circa 1820-1830. Medium green color - Jeffrey Tillou Antiques
Keene Marlboro Street Glassworks GIV-5 Keene, New Hampshire, circa 1820-1830. Medium green color - Jeffrey Tillou Antiques
GIV-2 Masonic Arch Keene-Marlboro-Street Glasswork This glassworks made many beautiful bottles including the GIV-2 Masonic/Eagle Flask which has the initials of Henry Schoolcraft (HS) on the front
Here are two tough New England masonic flasks, the GIV-2 and the GIV-16. These are early, historical and beautiful, and what really sets them off is the applied lips... unusual for early flasks! GREAT pieces! - Michael George
Thank you for including my bottle in your Masonic piece. Very nice.
I spell my name APRILL. My wife, a genealogist says we may be distant relatives of John APRIL. He spells his name with one L.
c.a.
Thanks. fixed it. Great flasks aren’t they?