Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2019.001.003 |
Object Name |
Tankard |
Title |
Lewis Bros Ceramics Municipal Building Tankard |
Description |
The tankard is white and cylindrical, featuring a picture of a man standing in front of the Trenton Municipal Building. The image is framed by a black inscription that reads, "MUNICIPAL BUILDING" at the top and "Trenton, New Jersey" at the bottom. In the picture, a Caucasian man with a beard stands on the left side, dressed in a coat and pants. The coat has two rows of buttons and a collar. To the right of the man, there is shrubbery, and above and to the right of the shrubbery are nine large Roman columns. Beneath the columns is a guard rail with four flags hanging from it, one of which appears to be the American flag. Underneath the guard rail are three arches and a staircase that appears to lead to the entrance of the building. The columns and arches are attached to the building on the right side. The building itself is three stories high, with six windows on the first floor, three on the second, and three on the third. The first story is slightly longer than the others and partially extends beneath the columns. There is another guard rail below the building, and a lamppost stands directly to the right. The right side of the tankard features a handle shaped like a half-heart, with a small portion jutting out near the top. Beneath this portion, a long, thick silver line stretches from nearly the top to the bottom of the handle. On the back of the tankard is a black inscription that reads, "Trenton's 'City Hall,' built in 1909, a grand example of Beaux Arts design. LANDMARK TANKARD No. 6. Sponsored by the TRENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY." The top of the tankard is open, revealing the inside, which features two indentations near the top and bottom of the handle. A gold sticker is affixed to the bottom of the tankard. The sticker depicts a blue image of a painting palette with two paintbrushes sticking out of it. In front of the palette are three glasses: a wine glass, a jug without a handle, and a pitcher. The image is framed by the blue inscription "Lewis Bros." at the top and "Ceramics Inc. Trenton N.J." at the bottom. According to the Library of Congress and the official site of the state of New Jersey, the Trenton Municipal Building, also known as Trenton City Hall, was designed by Spencer Roberts in 1907 and constructed between 1908 and 1910. Roberts, a Philadelphia-based architect, designed the building in a style that combines Renaissance themes with Beaux Arts Classicism. Citations: Trenton City Hall. New Jersey Historic Trust. (n.d.). https://www.nj.gov/dca/njht/funded/sitedetails/TrentonCityHall.shtml Trenton Municipal Building, 319 East State Street, Trenton, Mercer County, NJ. The Library of Congress. (n.d.). https://www.loc.gov/item/nj0921/ |
Date |
Late 20th century (Likely) |
Material |
Ceramic |
Artist |
Lewis Bros Ceramics |
Height (in) |
5.500 |
Length (in) |
5.250 |
Diameter (in) |
3.625 |
Condition |
Good |
Condition Notes |
Overall: Abrasions, dirt, accretions, and paint chipping throughout Top: There are two abrasions on the silver line on top near the left edge. There is a blue accretion near the top in the middle. There is a black accretion near the bottom on the left edge. And finally, there is a little bit of chipping on the silver line on the top near the right edge. Right Side: There are a few black accretions above the portion of the handle that juts out. Back: There is a little bit of dirt in the top left corner. There are two abrasions near the bottom in the middle. And finally, there is a little bit of chipping on the silver line near the top. Top: The bottom of the inside is covered in dirt. Also, there is a black accretion on the rim. Bottom: There is an engraved lower case "e" near the middle of the base. There is an upper case "T" to the left of the "e." There is a lower case "r" in the middle near the right edge. There are a couple of abrasions on the base. And finally, the rim is covered with dirt and abrasions. |
Inscription Type |
Inscription |
Inscription Location |
Front, center, top to bottom |
Inscription Technique |
Stamped |
Inscription Text |
"MUNICIPAL BUILDING" Line 1 "Trenton, New Jersey" Line 2 Back, center, top to bottom "Trenton's "City Hall," built" Line 1 "1909, a grand example" Line 2 "of Beaux Arts design" Line 3 "LANDMARK TANKARD No.6" Line 4 "Sponsored by" Line 5 "TRENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY" Line 6 Manufacturer's Mark Bottom, center, middle "Lewis Bros." Line 1 "Ceramics Inc." Line 2 "Trenton N.J." Line 3 |
People |
Peggy Peplow Gummere Spencer Roberts |
Classification |
Historic Sites Domestic Life/Household Goods Business & Commerce People Architecture |
Subjects |
Cities & towns Water City & town halls Civic leaders Politicians Politics & government Historic buildings Historic sites Drinking vessels Architecture |
Search Terms |
City Water City Government White Black Trenton Peggy Peplow Gummere Robert Spencer Judy L Winkler Buildings Government New Jersey Man Beard Municipal Building Trenton City Hall American Flag 1909 Trenton Historical Society Lewis Bros. Ceramics Ceramic 1907 1908 1910 20th Century Tankard Pottery Lewis Bros Ceramics Municipal Building Tankard |
Provenance |
This item was donated by Judy L WInkler. It became part of the Trenton Public Library's Museum Collection in January of 2019. |