A brass and cork stopper for a pocket flask

A brass and cork pocket flask stopper from the 1845 British Northwest Passage Expedition led by Sir John Franklin. The cork stopper has a brass cap with a ring attached.

The flask stopper was found at the boat site in Erebus Bay by Captain F. L. McClintock's sledge team on 30 May 1859, as part of the search expedition led by McClintock The site had been visited and partially investigated by Lt. William Hobson on 24 May but his report does not list everything he saw or removed. McClintock records 'stopper of a pocket flask, German silver top and ring'. [McClintock, Voyage of the Fox (1859), page 366].

The stopper was displayed at the Royal Naval Museum, Greenwich, Case 2, No. 71. 'Stopper of a pocket flask'. The item is shown in 'Stereoscopic slides of the relics of Sir John Franklin's Expedition' photographed by Lieutenant Cheyne RN, at the United Services Museum, Whitehall, No. 5 (left edge, middle).

Object Details

ID: AAA2183
Collection: Polar Equipment and Relics
Type: Flask stopper
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Events: Arctic Exploration: Franklin's Last Expedition, 1845-1848; Arctic Exploration: Franklin Search Expedition, McClintock, 1857-1859
Vessels: Fox (1855)
Date made: Before 1845
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London.
Measurements: 19 x 25 mm