Summer Tree – Winter Tree Historical Flasks
15 May 2013
What a wonderful day here in Augusta, Georgia as I have my morning coffee on the porch of the historic Partridge Inn. As I look out, I see all the trees are already full of leaves, the big Magnolias are blooming and the birds are singing. What a nice time to look at the popular Summer Tree | Winter Tree pictorial historical flasks. These flasks typically have the tree in full bloom on one side and a bare tree on the other side.
As you can see from the pictures below, the flasks come in quarts, pints and half pints in a wide range of glass colors. There are also mold variations that are important to notice including the lip treatment. Some flasks even have the words, “Summer” and “Winter” embossed over the trees. I personally like the bird (possibly a Partridge) on some of the flasks. The thinking is that these flasks were possibly made at the Baltimore Glass Works from 1850-1870.
These flasks periodically make appearances on my shelves as they are a favorite but usually fall away, just like the leaves on the tree, as I make room for more bitters bottles.
Summer Tree | Winter Tree Pictorial Flasks
“Summer” / Tree in Foliage – “Winter” / Bare Tree Pictorial Flask, America, possibly Baltimore Glass Works, Baltimore, Maryland, 1850 – 1860. Aquamarine, applied round double collared mouth – blowpipe pontil scar, pint, near mint; (some short, in-manufacture annealing lines around the inside of the neck, just below the applied collar, otherwise excellent). GX-15. A nice example with a good strong mold impression. – American Glass Gallery Auction #10 (See reverse side below)
“Summer” / Tree in Foliage – “Winter” / Bare Tree Pictorial Flask, America, possibly Baltimore Glass Works, Baltimore, Maryland, 1850 – 1860. Aquamarine, applied round double collared mouth – blowpipe pontil scar, pint, near mint; (some short, in-manufacture annealing lines around the inside of the neck, just below the applied collar, otherwise excellent). GX-15. A nice example with a good strong mold impression. – American Glass Gallery Auction #10 (See reverse side above)
SUMMER/WINTER FLASK with applied mouth and open pontil. GX-19 Quart, 8 ¼”. Here we have another gorgeous flask in a beautiful emerald green. There are a couple variants of this flask, this one has a bird sitting in the barren tree. An ex-Mebane flask, we see virtually no distractions whatsoever. The top is perfect, strike is bold and crisp, and the color is outstanding. Grades 9.8. – American Bottle Auctions
“Summer” / Tree in Foliage – “Winter” / Bare Tree Pictorial Flask, America, possibly Baltimore Glass Works, Baltimore, Maryland, 1850 – 1860. Bright yellowish citron, applied round double collared mouth – blowpipe pontil scar, pint; (lightly cleaned to original luster and near mint condition with a couple of small areas of light wear remaining). GX-15. Beautiful, attractive color, also a considerably harder mold to find with the pontiled scarred base! – American Glass Gallery Auction #10 (See reverse side below)
“Summer” / Tree in Foliage – “Winter” / Bare Tree Pictorial Flask, America, possibly Baltimore Glass Works, Baltimore, Maryland, 1850 – 1860. Bright yellowish citron, applied round double collared mouth – blowpipe pontil scar, pint; (lightly cleaned to original luster and near mint condition with a couple of small areas of light wear remaining). GX-15. Beautiful, attractive color, also a considerably harder mold to find with the pontiled scarred base! – American Glass Gallery Auction #10 (See reverse side above)
“Summer” / Tree in Foliage – “Winter” / Bare Tree Pictorial Flask, America, possibly Baltimore Glass Works, Baltimore, Maryland, 1850 – 1860. Bright yellowish citron, applied round double collared mouth – blowpipe pontil scar, pint; (lightly cleaned to original luster and near mint condition with a couple of small areas of light wear remaining). GX-15. Beautiful, attractive color, also a considerably harder mold to find with the pontiled scarred base! – American Glass Gallery Auction #10 (See flask above)
“SUMMER / TREE – “WINTER” / TREE, (GX-15), American, ca. 1860 – 1870, medium yellowish topaz with subtle puce striations pint, smooth base, applied double collar mouth. A bright, clean flask in a very rare attractive coloration, and with no trace of wear! No collection of colored ‘tree’ flasks would be complete without this one! Ex. Gary Fitz Collection. – Glass Works Auctions – Auction #96 Part II
GX-16 SUMMER TREE – WINTER TREE PICTORIAL FLASK, bluish aquamarine, half pint, applied rounded collared mouth, smooth base. United States. 1860-1880. 6″ H. Provenance: Collection of the late Russell Merlin Turner. – Jeffrey S. Evans Associates
SUMMER/WINTER FLASK. GX-16 Rolled lip with pontil, 5 ¾”. Another pristine flask, this is the smaller half-pint. Has lots of tiny whittle and is about perfect. – American Bottle Auctions
Summer Tree – Winter Tree historical flask in a gorgeous citron – American Bottle Auctions
“Summer” Tree – “Winter” Tree Pictorial Flask, Baltimore Glass Works, Baltimore, Maryland, 1860-1870. Bright light yellow green, applied double collared mouth – smooth base, pint; (potstone at shoulder with three 1/16 inch radiations). GX-15 Beautiful color, good clean bottle. Ex Crawford Wettlaufer collection. – Norman C. Heckler Auctions
Summer Tree – Winter Tree Pictorial Flask, possibly Baltimore Glass Works, Baltimore Maryland, 1860-1870. Light yellow green, applied double collared mouth – smooth base, quart; (shallow 1/2 inch flake from inside edge of mouth, shallow 1/2 inch flake from medial rib at shoulder). GX-19 Beautiful and rare color. Great mold impression. Mike Roberts collection. – Norman C. Heckler Auctions
