Flask

Art Historical Context

This unassuming earthenware flask, between 1840 and 1860 by an unknown artist, exemplifies the practical artistry of everyday life in 19th-century America. Measuring a compact 17.8 × 6 × 14 cm, its simple, bulbous form with a narrow neck was designed for portability, ideal for carrying whiskey, water, or other liquids during travel, work, or leisure. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of the Americas department and classified as a vessel, it reflects the utilitarian pottery traditions that thrived in rural workshops across the United States. Earthenware, made from low-fired clay, w...