GX-27 Stoddard Flag Flask

GX – 27

Thirteen Star Flag – “New Granite Glass Works / Stoddard / N.H.”

Historical Flask

New Granite Glass Works, Mill Village
Stoddard, New Hampshire

Golden Olive Amber Pint

Provenance: Anonymous

The GX-27 “Stoddard Flag flask” represents the best of American patriotism. We are looking at an exquisite example produced by hard-working men from small-town glassworks. The flask is prominently embossed with the 13-star American flag, our first official flag, and is attributed to the New Granite Glass Works, in Stoddard, New Hampshire, circa 1860.

Glassmaking in the town covered the years 1842-1873. Nearby stood the South Stoddard Glass Works founded by Joseph Foster in 1842. A second works was erected in 1846 at Mill Village, two miles north. In its day a major industry of the State. Stoddard glass products are highly prized by collectors.

The historic sign as you enterStoddard, New Hampshire

Our museum example of a GX-27 Stoddard Flag historical flask pint is similar to the half-pint GX-28 Stoddard Flag. On what is considered the primary face of the flask, you will see an embossed flag that opens to the right with nine stripes and thirteen stars. The reverse of the flask has embossed copy, in a horseshoe shape, reading ‘NEW GRANITE GLASS WORKS’ enclosing ‘STODDARD’ in an arc with ‘N. H.’ below. The flask has a plain lip and pontil mark and has a smooth edge with a heavy vertical medial rib. The pint flask can be found in golden amber, amber, and olive amber glass. All examples of this flask are considered very rare.

New Granite Glass Works

Although they were unrelated, two different glass factories, both located at Stoddard, New Hampshire, had very similar names and made similar products. The Granite Glass Co. was the earlier of the two, existing from 1849 to 1862. The New Granite Glass Works followed from 1860 to 1871. Both made flasks that were the only products to bear their names. The link between the two was George Foster, who worked as a glass blower for the first firm and was the dominant force – with his brothers – in the ownership of the second one.

Located at Mill Village, New Hampshire, the New Granite Glass Works was run by the sons of Joseph Foster; George, Charles, Wallace, and Joseph who built the plant, but George was distinctly the leader. Although the timing of the opening is unclear, the plant was certainly operational on May 20, 1861, as noted in the initial payroll entry. The factory made a large variety of bottles and fruit jars as well as willow-covered demijohns.

Like its predecessor, the New Granite Glass Works did not identify the vast majority of its products, although it is noted for three flasks in pint and half-pint sizes embossed with its name and location. One pint and two half-pint flasks were embossed with the American flag and New Granite Glass Works, Stoddard, N.H. The flags appear in two configurations, one with nine stripes and thirteen stars; the other with thirteen stripes and sixteen stars. The nine-stripe variation was also made in a pint size.

Although the sources are unclear about the timing, the brothers sold the business to Charles B. Barrett sometime between 1864 and 1868. A liquor and tobacco salesman, Barrett made bottles to sell his products. The plant burned to the ground in 1871, and Barrett chose not to rebuild.

Primary Image: GX-27 Stoddard Flag flask imaged on location by the FOHBC Virtual Museum midwest studio led by Alan DeMaison.

Support: Reference to The Granite Glass Companies by Bill Lockhart, Beau Schriever, Bill Lindsey, and Carol Serr

Support: Reference to American Bottles and Flasks and Their Ancestry by Helen McKearin and Kenneth M. Wilson, Crown Publishers Inc., New York, 1978.

Secondary Support Images: Auction Lot 59: Thirteen Star Flag – “New Granite Glass Works / Stoddard / N.H.” Historical Flask, New Granite Glass Works, Stoddard, New Hampshire, circa 1860. Medium yellow amber with an olive tone, sheared mouth – pontil scar, pint; (light exterior high point wear). GX-27 Rare and highly desirable. Fine condition. Ex Timothy and Christine Hill collection. – Norman C. Heckler & Company Auction #154. The auction catalog cover is also pictured above.

Secondary Support Image: Flag Flask: Shaded amber glass; mold-blown; plain lip, pontil mark. Obverse: large American Flag to right, nine stripes and thirteen stars. Reverse: inscription in semi-circle “NEW GRANITE GLASS WORKS” and enclosing “STODDARD” in an arc and beneath “N.H.”. Edges: smooth, with heavy vertical medial rib. – Corning Museum of Glass

Secondary Support Image: Collection of “Stoddard” glass photograph by Michael George.