Vintage Cobalt Blue Blown Glass Bug Catcher, Fly Trap

Here's a vintage, blown glass fly trap in very good, well-preserved condition! These typically date back to the 1920s and earlier and were used to catch flies by baiting them with sugar water inside. The top would be corked or otherwise blocked and the flies would come in from the bottom. This particular catcher has a glass stopper for the opening. The inner reservoir would be filled with sugar water and the flies would enter and exhaust themselves flying around inside and fall in the water and drown.

Catchers like these were used in homes, shops, and factories, primarily before window screens were in wide use. This fly trap is cobalt blue glass with three, little attached glass feet for table top or window sill use. Sometimes the user would wrap wire are the neck and hang catchers like this one. It measures 8 inches high (including the stopper) and 5 1/4 inches in diameter at its widest. Bottle collectors, antiques enthusiasts, and interior decorators like these catchers because of the varieties of shape and colors they are found in. What was once a utilitarian item is now a cool collectors piece!