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The Power of Pitkins:

An American Classic

by Kary Pardy

f patterned antique glass has ever caught your eye, you’ve likely Henry William Stiegel, who
appreciated the flowing lines and swirling, ribbed decoration of a operated the American Flint
I“Pitkin” flask. The term “Pitkin” is a more recent collector’s Glass Manufactory from
designation that references Connecticut’s Pitkin Glass Works and their 1765 to 1774, and others
famous production of ribbed, pattern glass in the late 18th and early produced similar patterned
19th century. The style itself is even older than its namesake and bottles, through Pitkin
originated in Germany before traveling around the Americas and scholar Michael George
finding favor in several glass factories in New England and beyond. writes that these would most
The signature look of a Pitkin piece is as desirable now as it ever was, likely have been single, vertically
with collectors devoting much of their energies towards acquiring these ribbed examples, with swirls not Left: Pitkin
fascinating pieces, and reproductions finding places of pride in several appearing in the New Jersey or in the handmade
colonial-style homes and among an eclectic glass display in more Pennsylvania areas until the early 19th century. But mouth-blown
modern homes. But what makes Pitkins so special? The answer lies in swirls did appear in East Hartford, Connecticut. replica, Right:
their attractive pattern, early American history, and in the hunt for the In 1783, Connecticut’s General Assembly granted Pitkin flask
genuine article. Captain Richard Pitkin a twenty-five-year monopoly on manufacturing

Early 29th century photo of a
group of kids playing on the ruins
Making a Pitkin
Much of the Pitkin’s appeal lies in their signature style. While there of the Pitkin Glass Works
is still some debate as to how they were created, understanding their
“half-post” method is the key. Pitkin specialist and collector Dana
Charlton-Zarro writes that the initial gather of glass would first be
formed into the shape of
a bottle, then dipped
into molton materials
again up to the shoulder
of the flask (thus called
the “half” post). Once
two layers were achieved,
the piece was dipped
into a pattern mold for
its initial ribbing, glass to thank him and his family for providing gun powder, at a loss,
removed, and then to the Connecticut militia for the past few years. Their namesake
swirled. The glassmaker factory, the Pitkin Glass Works, was built on the family farm and
might opt for a “broken
Notice the half-post markings on this early 1800s swirl” pattern, and remained in operation until around 1830, producing bottles, flasks,
Pitkin bottle inkwells, demijohns, and other small items, and specialized in the pat-
reinsert it into a mold
again to add more ribs, and then the piece was expanded. Zarro empha- terns that ultimately became synonymous with their name. Examples
have been excavated from the factory site with thirty-six ribs and
sizes the importance of flask-formed layers and the second dip in this beyond in a variety of colors.
signature technique. Other Connecticut factories picked up on the
Pitkin formation was shrouded in mystery for some time. The half-
post method was deceiving and could easily be mistaken for an inserted style and produced them from the turn of the
19th century until the 1830s. We know because
neck. The ribbing presented similar challenges, but Zarro explains that excavations have uncovered characteris-
twirling first and then applying vertical tically-ribbed flasks throughout the area.
ribs second created a cross-swirl pattern Other glassworks of New England may
that didn’t ruin the initial ribbing and have joined in on the trend as well.
resulted in beautiful, and previously Michael George singles out the Keen
puzzled over, patterns that appealed to Marlboro Street Glassworks (1815-
collectors through the ages.
1841) as the only known producer of
Pitkin-type flasks in New

Hampshire, with a
durable, popular
Pitkin History
These lovely swirl-ribbed vessels like- style that might
ly first appeared on the scene in America
in Southern New Jersey in the mid-18th Early pattern molded glass pocket Rare Pitkin
century. Glass factories were flourishing bottle by Stiegels Glass Works reverse swirl inkwell
in this area, and it is probable that photo: Hecklerauction.com and flask

2021 Annual Glass Section April 2021 23