historical flask ONLY FIVE FLASKS antique bottles

ebay By Kevin A. Sives nasa

Which famous figure, whose fame is even greater in some respects than George Washington, is only pictured on five different portrait flasks?

Thomas Jefferson? John Adams? Jenny Lind? (No, she's portrayed on at least 11 different flasks, but it's doubtful that one out of one hundred Americans can even remember why she's famous -- and it doesn't have anything to do with inventing a type of bed).

Actually, the answer to the above question is none other than Benjamin Franklin.

Most Americans are familiar with Benjamin Franklin on many different levels. His experiments with his kite and lightening have become part of the popular culture -- even tiny children know of his exploits. Franklin was indeed a Renaissance Man --a man who made many contributions in such diverse areas as publishing, science, writing, statesmanship, and philosophy. Amongst Franklin's creations was Poor Richard's Almanack, a philosophical debating club called the Junto, hospital, the first circulating library, and even the University of Pennsylvania. His inventions include clocks, stoves, and lightening conductors.

But there are many things about Franklin that we don't remember today.

In 1754, Franklin represented Pennsylvania at the Albany Convention, where he presented his Plan of Union, which later became the basis for the Articles of Confederation and U.S. Constitution. In 1764, Franklin appeared before the English House of Commons to argue against the hated Stamp Act, which lead to its repeal. Upon returning to America, he became a delegate to the Second Continental Congress. Then Congress appointed him to the committee of five that drew up the Declaration of Independence.

In 1776, Franklin was sent to France to enlist their aid against Great Britain. In 1778, he was instrumental in securing the treaty of alliance in France whereby France formally recognized the United States. While in France, he also served as a member of the U.S. committee that negotiated peace with Great Britain and became the New United States' first ambassador to France. Franklin's reputation grew from being a citizen of the world.

Finally, in 1785, Congress recalled Franklin from France. Upon returning home, he became chairman of the municipal council of Philadelphia, and later president of the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania. In 1787 as delegate to the Constitutional Convention, he was an opponent to the over centralization of the government, but nevertheless supported the adoption of the Constitution. In 1790, just before his death, as a member of an abolitionist organization, he signed a petition requesting Congress to officially abolish slavery.

Franklin died in Philadelphia later that year, and was buried in Christ Church burial ground under a stone bearing, by his request, the simple inscription "Benjamin and Deborah Franklin".

Death did not diminish Franklin's fame -- on the contrary, it grew even stronger. Franklin's birthday continued to be celebrated across the nation for nearly 50 years. Succeeding generations kept Franklin's memory alive by expounding his quotes and maxims that were made famous in Poor Richard's Almanac. And Franklin's life, his rising from the lowly job of printer's devil, to becoming such noted luminary, continues to serve as inspiration to many.

FRONT	BACK

So it's no wonder that early flask makers chose to immortalize Franklin's image in glass.

And the one who made this decision was none other than Thomas W. Dyott. Perhaps the happy coincidence that Dyott emigrated to, and settled in, Philadelphia made his use of Franklin's image inevitability.

As we all know (at least anyone who has read any of my other articles about the amazing Thomas Dyott), Dyott was certainly a man who would not under sell himself, nor his accomplishments. The fact that Dyott arrived in Philadelphia nearly penniless, and became a merchant and glassmaker in a short span of years, was indeed an accomplishment. But you've got to love the fellow for his audacity -- to compare himself to Franklin, not just figuratively, but literally, takes a lot of audacity.

And not only did he make this leap by putting his portrait on one side of a flask, and Franklin's on another, but he went one better. In advertisements listing these flasks for sale, he chose to list them as "Dyott/Franklin" flasks, not "Franklin/Dyott"!!!

In all, Dyott produced three marked "Dyott and Franklin" flasks, two pints GI-94 and GI-95, and one quart, GI-96. All three flasks have a portrait of Dyott on one side, with the inscription "T.W. DYOTT, M.D." above the picture. On the reverse of the flask, is a portrait of Franklin, with the inscription "BENJAMIN FRANKLIN" above the picture.

Probably the first of these flasks produced, circa 1824, was GI-95. This variation has no inscription around the edges of the flask. In late 1825 or early 1826, this mold was altered, to add the inscription "WHERE LIBERTY DWELLS THERE IS MY COUNTRY" on the edge of the Franklin side, and "KENINGTON GLASS WORKS PHILADELPHIA" around the edges of the Dyott side. This flask is designated GI-94 by McKearin/Wilson.

This sentiment about liberty and country had been long associated with Franklin, and continued to be used during the first quarter of the 19^th century.

The third Dyott/Franklin flask, a quart sized one, is GI-96. This flask is nearly identical to GI-94 described above, with the exception of the inscription on the Franklin side. Instead of speaking about liberty and country, this flask is inscribed "ERIPUIT COELO FULMEN, SCEPTRUMQUE TYRANNIS", which is loosely translated from Latin to read "He snatched the lightening from heaved and the scepter from tyrants."

This meaning of the inscription (and the ability to translate it) is virtually lost to us today. The inscription itself, however, came from the 1778 bust made of Franklin by Houdon. And McKearin/Wilson states that it's quite likely that either the bust or an engraving of the bust, served as a model for the portrait on the flasks,

The fourth flask with Franklin's image on it is attributed also to the Kensington Glass Works of Thomas Dyott. This flask has no edge inscriptions, but is attributed to the Kensington Glass Works because of its similarity in shape and style to the above three marked Kensington flasks. In addition to lacking the edge inscriptions, this flask also does not have the name "BENJAMIN FRANKLIN" embossed over Franklin's portrait. In the flask charts in McKearin/Wilson, this quart-sized flask has the reference number GI-97.

But even more interesting is that the Dyott side of this flask has been replaced with another Franklin side -- the result being a Franklin/Franklin flask, instead of a Dyott/Franklin. One interesting theory about why this flask is rare, as well as where it fits in the progression of Franklin flasks, is based upon the fact that molds were expensive and time-consuming to make.

FRONT	BACK

Thus, the mold for this flask, GI-97, was made. Each half bears a portrait of Benjamin Franklin, has no inscription above the portrait, and lacks edge inscriptions. With this mold, the Kensington Glass Works turned out a number of flasks. Eventually, Dyott decides to alter the flasks so that his portrait adorns one side of the flask. To do this, he'd need to have a quart sized "Dyott" side cut. Then, by taking one of the Franklin sides, it could be altered by adding the inscription "BENJAMIN FRANKLIN" above the portrait, and the Latin inscription of GI-96 added around the edge.

Thus, a new flask was created without having to make two new halves of a mold -- only one new side would be made, and the other side altered.

Thus, four of the five Franklin flasks were created at the Kenisngton Glass Works, operated by Thomas Dyott. But what about the fifth flask? Oddly, this flask was made in one of the Midwestern glass houses, but it chose to memorialize not only Benjamin Franklin, but also Thomas Dyott!!!

This rare pint flask is designated GI-98 by McKearin/Wilson, and is listed as one of the Most Desirable Flasks, Group B, by George McKearin in "American Glass".

On the front of this flask is the inscription "BENJAMIN FRANKLIN" in an arch, over the bust of Franklin. The portrait of Franklin is similar to GI-94 and GI-95, however, in this view of Franklin, the mold maker decided to give old Ben a bare pate on top of his head.

The reverse is very close to the reverse of GI-94, showing a portrait of Thomas Dyott. However, the inscription with Dyotts name has been replaced with the words "WHEELING GLASS WORKS".

Why would a glass house in Ohio choose to memorialize Thomas Dyott on one of its flasks? There are several reasons, but the most likely one is that as Dyott's flasks were shipped to the area for sale, a competitor decided to make "look alike" flasks for local companies. After all, it doesn't require much creativity to take one of Dyott's flasks and use it as a model for another flask. There no real answers concerning which of the glass works in operation in the Wheeling area at that time made the flasks, but there is no controversy about the fact that these flasks are quite rare.

So there you have it, a mere five different flasks bearing the image of Benjamin Franklin.

If you're thinking that there isn't enough of a selection of Franklin flasks to make a good selection of Franklin flasks to make a good collection, boy would you be wrong! Of the five flasks, GI-94, GI-95, and GI-96 are listed as Comparatively Scarce, GI-97 is listed as Scarce, and GI-98 is called Extremely Rare. So the flasks are rare -- but there are a lot of rare flasks out there. However, were able to acquire one example of each flask, in the colors listed in McKearin/Wilson, your display cabinet would have at least 25 flasks (and your wallet would be much lighter indeed).

What colors are we talking about? How about dark amber, red-amber, emerald green, yellow-green, deep green, or amethyst? Yikes, that makes my aquamarine examples pale by comparison (no pun intended).

So there you have it, a little bit of the history of Benjamin Franklin and the pictorial flasks which were created to memorialize him. Now the real question is why did Jenny Lind warrant 11 different flasks?

References:

McKearin, Helen and Wilson, Kenneth, "American Bottles and Flasks and Their Ancestry", Crown Publisher, Inc., New York, 1970.

McKearin, Helen, "Bottles, Flasks, and Dr. Dyott", Crown Publishers, Inc., New York, 1970.

McKearin, George and Helen, "American Glass", Crown Publishers, Inc., New York. 1948.

Did you enjoy this article? Every month Antique Bottle and Glass Collector magazine gives you neat stories like this one.

Why not subscribe today!

it's easy just click here. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

Return me to: HOME PAGE - Go back to: HISTORICAL FLASKS