Potato Spirit Flask

Stock No: 001948

Height: 6 Inches / 15 cm

Reference:  A Potted History (Henry Willett’s Ceramic Chronicle of Britain) Stella Beddoe, Page 286, Cup, (1390)

Price: £595.00

A very rare and unusual Staffordshire pottery bottle or spirit flask in the form of a potato. This very rare survivor from the late 18th, early 19th century is camouflaged perfectly with a pinkie purple overglaze enamel with darkened eyes in places, reminiscent of a freshly dug red potato. The Red potato was first cultivated in the mountains of Peru by Spanish explorers who then brought the potato back with them on returning voyages, they introduced it to Europe in the 1560s. The interior of this flask has a rich pearlware lead glaze with blue tinge. Made in Staffordshire, England c1800, this example is in remarkable unrestored condition showing signs of surface scratches in places, no damage, repairs, or restoration. I can just imagine a distant past farm labourer taking a swig of his favourite tipple while digging the crop!