Powder Flask

Object/Artifact

-

Historic Stonington

Name/Title

Powder Flask

Entry/Object ID

2022.602.007

Description

A pair of black powder flasks manufactured by the American Flask and Cap Company in New York City. Each of the flasks holds 3 lbs of black powder pellets. One of them depicts a rabbit and three birds hung by their feet, as if they had been hunted. The other features a liekness of a hunting dog in front of some trees. Both are made of leather which is in pretty good condition considering their age. The lever action on both caps is still functional, and one still has the cordage attached. Made of dark brown leather. By the 1860s, flask making was an increasingly industrialized process. Factories like the one owned by the American Flask & Cap Co. mass produced thousands of powder flasks for hunters and the military. A larger supply of flasks meant that makers gave more and more stores permission to sell their products. Store owners were provided with catalogues that they and their customers could use to pick out which flasks they wanted to order. These catalogues included information on flask size, design, and price. Consumers were also able to buy flasks made from a variety of materials.

Collection

McShane Collection

Made/Created

Artist

American Flask and Cap Company

Date made

1857 - 1865