Flask
1840–60
Medium
Earthenware
Dimensions
27 × 8.3 × 20.3 cm (10 5/8 × 3 1/8 × 8 1/4 in.)
Classification
vessel
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
67185
Art Historical Context
This elegant earthenware flask, crafted by Lyman, Fenton & Co. 1840 and 1860, exemplifies the burgeoning American pottery industry of the mid-19th. Produced at the United States Pottery Company in Ben, Vermont—one of the nation's earliest large-scale factories—the flask measures 27 × 8.3 × 20.3 cm, making it a portable vessel ideal for carrying liquids like whiskey or medicine during travel or daily use. Earthenware, fired at relatively low temperatures, was prized for its affordability and versatility, often glazed to enhance durability and appeal. Historically, Lyman, Fenton & Co. specializ...