Columbia / Eagle Flask Sells for Record $177,840 at Glass Works Auctions

At the online-only Premier Auction #192 conducted by Glass Works Auctions on May 4th, a Columbia / Eagle flask produced by Kensington Union Glass Works (Philadelphia, Pa.) circa 1825-1835 fetched an impressive $177,840, establishing a new record for the auction price of an American flask or bottle. This exceptional piece features a rare 12-ounce mold with a single smooth wide vertical rib. The auction showcased select items from the collection of Richard Watson, a distinguished bottle and flask enthusiast who collected from the late 1950s until his passing in 2014 at the age of 82. Watson authored two books on bitters bottles in 1965 and 1968, illustrated with line drawings by his wife, Elma, and was mentored by the late Charles Gardner.