Sunbursts are considered one of the oldest of the American Geometric and Historical Flasks and are generally attributed to the period of 1815 to the early 1830’s.

The McKearin Group VIII – Sunburst Flasks

04 May 2012 (R•032214)

The collectors of Sunburst flasks have been posting some great pictures recently on facebook. My wife and I are admirers but not collectors of these gorgeous pieces that have a common ‘sunburst’ motif on the face of each flask. To understand the the basics of the 30 various molds in the McKearin Group VIII – Sunburst Flasks, I decided to review existing information in my library and online resources. Bill Ham has done a great job in two previous articles in Antique Bottle & Glass Collector that I used for the backbone of this post.

Sunbursts are considered one of the oldest of the American Geometric and Historical Flasks and are generally attributed to the period of 1815 to the early 1830’s. This dating results from historical research and the manufacturing techniques of the flasks. The Sunburst Flasks are all made with 2 piece molds with pontil scar bases and most having shred mouths. Except for the letter embossing on three forms, the sunburst patterns on both sides of the sunburst flask forms are essentially identical.

With many types of antique bottles and flasks, such as bitters, sodas, and medicines, the embossed names, products and locations, advertising, and paper labels greatly simplifies their historical research. Very limited historical information is available for sunburst flasks because they are from the early periods of the glass houses when good records were not maintained, or destroyed in glass house fires. Only 3 of the approximately 33 sunburst forms are letter embossed. There were no paper labels on the flasks because they were purchased without contents and then filled and refilled in bars and saloons.

Read More: Two Extraordinary Wide Mouth Sunburst Snuff Jars

Connecticut Sunburst Flasks

The first geometric flasks, those with sunburst and Masonic patterns were blown in about 1815. The first historical flasks, those commemorating a historical person or event were not blown until about 1824. Sunburst and Masonic flasks were blown at a number of glass houses during the approximate 1815-1830 period including two in Connecticut, the Pitkin Glass Works, East Hartford, and the Coventry Glass Works, Coventry. Historical flasks were also blown at these glass works. (Read More: Connecticut Sunburst Flasks by and with permission from Bill Ham)

Examples of Connecticut Sunburst Flasks

The Keene Embossed and Similar Sunburst Flasks

The three sunburst forms having letter embossing are the GVIII-8, GVIII-9, and GVIII-10, with “KEEN” in the center on one side and “P & W” on the other. These three flasks are attributed to the Kenne-Marboro Street Glass Works, Keene, New Hampshire. All the other sunburst flasks have been attributed to glass houses or regions through historical search of records, digging in the ruins of the various glass houses (2) and the similarity of glass quality and color between a sunburst form and other flasks forms from known glass houses. Two very similar sunburst forms that do not have the letter embossing, the GVIII-11 and GVIII-12, have been attributed to the Keene-Marboro Street Glass Works and New England, respectively. (Read More: The Keene Embossed and Similar Sunburst Flasks by and with permission from Bill Ham)

Examples of Keene Embossed and similar Sunburst Flasks

Sunburst Picture Gallery

I have compiled some picture and hope my bottle friends will continue posting their examples for inclusion into this gallery.

Here are a few New Hampshire sunbursts – Michael George

Four gorgeous GVIII-18’s in colors….One of my favorite molds in Group 8 – Rick Ciralli

GVIII-2 sunburst flask, the ‘Keene 2-Pounder’ – Meyer Collection

Rare colored “PITKIN” GVIII-16 sunburst 1/2 pint…Also made in Coventry – Rick Ciralli

Two GVIII-3 Coventry sunbursts – Mike Brauser

Here is another grouping of Connecticut sunbursts. From L to R: GVIII-3a, 7, 5a, 3 & 5 – Michael George

Two gorgeous green sunbust GVIII-5’s – Mike Brauser

Beautiful GVIII-7 sunburst – Maryo Collection

One of my all time favorite molds and very popular among flask collectors for it’s shape and form is the GVIII-18, here are some colors – Rick Ciralli

Sunburst flasks as sunrise – John April

I have this thing for sunbursts – a pair of GVIII-5’s and GVIII-5a’s – Rick Ciralli

GVIII-8 Keene Sunburst embossed P&W – ex: Meyer Collection

Sunburst Flask, Keene Marlboro Street Glassworks, Keene, New Hampshire, 1820-1830. Sunburst designs encircling a plain oval on each side, brilliant greenish aquamarine, applied sloping collared mouth with ring – pontil scar, half pint; (1 inch series of cracks on the bottom corrugated edge on one side and a shallow flake with a 1/2 inch crack on the other corrugated side at the base). GVIII-11 in an unlisted color This bottle was found in a Glastonbury, Connecticut attic. It retains an old cork and some content residue. It will clean, it is not stained. Displays wonderfully. Rare unlisted color. – Heckler Auction 102