A sterling silver drinking flask featuring a double sided stamped pair of images featuring Trappist monks. This wonderfully detailed and humourous, high quality flask is quite the departure from the classic hip flask. The body of the flask features two different scenes, following the Trappist monk of the monastery brewhouse on his round to collect and bottle new beer to be sold. It appears that he has not taken his responsibilities very seriously, and a fellow monk, who can be seen spying on him on the top right of the flask, on the reverse side, is responsible for bringing the Abbot to find the reprobate a little worse for wear. There are a number empty beer bottles to his side, that he had initially collected on his round in his basket. Presumably for distribution to make money for the running of the monastery!
Such is the quality of the definition of the original die that the grain can be seen in the wood barrels, the wicker in the basket carrying the beer, and even the spectacles on the nose of the very disapproving Abbot!
The origins of monks brewing beer dates back to the middle ages, and can trace its roots to Catholic French monks. This model was then adopted by a number of other religious orders Europe over the course of several hundred years. Today, through the International Trappist Association (ITA), there are only eleven officially recognised Trappist Brewhouses. The three main criteria that are necessary for the beer to fall into this association are as follow; 1.The beer must be brewed within the walls of a Trappist monastery, either by the monks themselves or under their supervision. 2. The brewery must be of secondary importance within the monastery and it should witness to the business practices proper to a monastic way of life. 3. The brewery is not intended to be a profit-making venture. The income covers the living expenses of the monks and the maintenance of the buildings and grounds. Whatever remains is donated to charity for social work and to help persons in need.
The flask was made by one of America's leading 20th Century silversmiths; R. Wallace and sons. Founded in 1835 in Wallingford, Connecticut by Robert Wallace, the son of a Scottish immigrant silversmith, James Wallace. At the age of 16, Robert Wallace became an apprentice to Captain William Mix, a renowned spoon maker for the Meriden Britannia Company, the most successful flatware producer in the North East, at this time. So, any successful apprentice from this apprenticeship became in great demand.
Having mastered the art of silver craft, Robert Wallace left his apprenticeship, purchased a dilapidated gristmill, and began to produce his own cutlery. By 1833, Wallace's silver shop was up and running. As Wallace was skilled in the art of spoon making, Wallace's only product was spoons. One day, while shopping in New York City, Wallace happened upon a piece of cutlery made of a nickel alloy called ‘German silver’ that had been produced by Dixon & sons of Sheffield, England. Impressed by the quality and strength of the piece, Wallace bought the formula from the German chemist Dr. Louis Feuchtwanger who had a small bar of that metal from Germany for the then unheard sum of $20 and went on to build these new nickel silver spoons. Later he found a man who had brought the recipe for making the metal. Wallace purchased that too. In his factory, he then compounded the first German silver made in America and pioneered the new industry.
In 1887, William Hale Beckford in ‘Leading business men of New Haven county’ described the company, "The valuable plant of the company is one of the most complete and extensive of its kind in the United States, the buildings being substantially built of brick, two and three stories in height, and covering an area of several acres of ground." By 1893, this company manufactured silver and plated ware and cutlery and had about six hundred employees.
Robert Wallace died on June 1, 1892, and was succeeded by his sons and son-in-law who grew the business to be the largest manufacturer of flat tableware in the world. At the start of the 20th century, about three tons of steel and one and a half tons of nickel silverware were used daily. The company opened retail operations in both New York City and Chicago, with the company's success bringing prosperity to Wallingford itself. It carried on under family ownership until it was acquired a number of times through the mid to late part of the 20th century, even at one point being owned by the Hamilton Watch Company.
A number of pieces from R. Wallace & sons are featured in museum collections throughout the country, and even more in notable private collections. This fine example came from a private collection and is in perfect condition having never been polished by machine, and having no dents or damage. The flask is fully stamped on the base, as can be seen in the fourth photograph. The flask still seals and can be used today, if desired. Made in America, circa 1890.
