A sterling silver and Nailsea crystal drinking flask. This exceptional quality and highly unusual piece is one of the finest drinking flasks from the period. It has an exceptionally beautiful feather-like design integrated into its crystal body that has remained in perfect condition. The sterling silver lid is an extremely rare design and super quality. It is hinged, like many bottles and flasks from the time, with a piano style hinge at the back.However, rather than being a traditional bayonet style fitting this flask, or bottle, has a button trigger opening on the front. The lid then pops back allowing for easy access to drink from. The lid itself is very thick, heavy gauge silver and still has a beautiful snap back to meet cleanly to the neck once pressed back down. Another element that highlights this pieces quality is seen on the inside of the lid. Classic bottle or flask making included the addition of cork onto the underside of the lid to create a tight seal and prevent liquid escaping. This bottle has an ingenious spring piece of silver that closes down onto the inside of the lid to create the seal. A rare and beautifully engineered design element scarcely seen. The feather like white design running through the body of the bottle is known as Nailsea glass. Produced in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in the town of Nailsea near Bristol, England, Nailsea glass is renowned for its distinctive decorative style. Characterised by feathered, looped, and combed patterns created by trailing threads of contrasting coloured glass, these pieces often display striking marbled and streaked effects in shades of white, blue, green, and amethyst. While the Nailsea Glassworks produced utilitarian wares such as bottles and window glass, it is the decorative objects—rolling pins, flasks, vases, and novelty items—that are most prized by collectors today. Celebrated for their vibrant, experimental designs and folk-art charm, genuine Nailsea pieces remain highly sought after and are an important part of Britain’s glassmaking heritage The top of the collar on the bottle has an English hallmarks for having been made in London, England in 1891. The collar also has the makers marks of Norman Marshall. The bottle is in superb condition overall and would make a stunning addition to any home or collection.
