I would think that the keystone motif connects to the Masons, then the eye
would relate to the Odd Fellows. The eye could also be a Masonic symbol, as
with the eye and pyramid motif on the back of the U.S. $1.00 bill.

Is the fragment from a historical-pictorial flask? The 1850s are a bit late
for those, and Kansas is fairly far west, but not impossible by any means.

D. Babson

On Thu, Jan 21, 2021, 4:06 PM Garst, Chris [KSHS] <[log in to unmask] wrote:

> Hello:
> While analyzing the archaeological collection from the 1988 excavations at
> Constitution Hall State Historic Site (
> www.kshs.org/p/constitution-hall/19562) in Lecompton, Kansas, I came
> across a mark on a bottle or jar that I have never seen before.  The
> fragment can be viewed (and enlarged) here:
> www.kansasmemory.org/item/507227/page/1.  Clear glass on a gray
> background doesn't make for easy viewing, but enlarging the image does
> help.  I made an assumption that the eyebrow over the eye indicated "up,"
> but I don't know this to be correct.  I don't know if this mark is
> decoration or a maker's mark as I have been unable to discover any more
> regarding the "eye" in a sort of "upside-down keystone."  I am hoping that
> one of you may have seen this before.  Thank you in advance to all who take
> the time to give this eye a look-see.
>
> Chris Garst
>
> Christine Garst
> Archeologist
> Kansas Historical Society
> 6425 SW 6th Avenue
> Topeka, KS 66615
> [log in to unmask]
> 785.272.8681 ext 151
>
>
>
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