This powder flask is in exceptional condition, with all its lacquer, no dents or open seams, and even on the high points of the repousee design there is practically no wear. It would be very hard, if not impossible to improve upon. The flask bears a Mexican War date of 1847, is maker marked by Batty, and bears a US inspector’s stamp “CB” on the collar below the date. Both triangular carrying rings are in place. The thumbpiece and spring work. The adjustable spout is there and not dented. The brass elements retain much of their original bright color and show just scattered scratches and some darkening along the graduated adjustment slot of the spout.

This flask was de-accessioned from the Hershey Museum and bears their black ink inventory number on the bottom edge. This might clean, but we have not touched it and the flask is so nice it hardly matters.

The flask bears the standard motif for the flask pattern developed by Ames in 1837 and known as the “Peace Flask,” from the prominent pair of clasped hands in the design (originally more a symbol of fidelity we presume.) At bottom a US shield is superimposed on a panoply of arms and flags, over which a pair of clasped hands appears in an oval sunburst surround by stars. At top is an American eagle with a US shield on its chest clutching arrows and olive branch in its talons. This is a beautiful example of the regulation US contract flask designed to be carried by riflemen.  [sr]

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