ATLANTIC SOUTH. Shot Glass, Barware, Souvenir, c. 1980s.
Okay, so we admit that this collectible barware item had us at the very first glance. Come on: simple yet brilliant primary color splashes illustratively depicting a wading flamingo inside a warm sun-like sphere? Yes, this was an easy one for us, glowing, almost begging for attention amongst a rather dull set of shelves in a local flea market. But the solid square shape added even more interest to our love at first sight. A deep-dive into the history of the humble shot glass revealed origin stories ranging from a small glass placed on 19th century dinner tables into which buckshot from “locally sourced” kill while eating said meat could be deposited, to a plausible source name run out from its size: equal to a strong “shot” of medicine. But there was little aside from its modern ubiquity (seen in many a contemporary e-commerce shop) on the origins of the square shape. So, we’ll leave it at that, for the party time shot glass itself needs little else. If “modern vintage,” this collectible shot glass is spot on. But we tend to think it a product of the 1970s-80s. The popularity of Daytona Beach as a late 20th century party spot, alongside the 1970s being the last stand of this specific mid-century graphic-illustrative style gives credence to our hunch … But lest we overthink it, it’s a Daytona Beach shot glass emblazoned with a pink flamingo. Enough said. Bottoms up! (Bottle provided for scale only.)
Condition: Used Very Good. Food / Beverage Related. Dimensions: 2.5" high (volume: 2 fl oz) / 5 oz
