Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2020.FIC.052.B |
Object Name |
Teacup |
Title |
Mercer Pottery Company Brown Floral Sprig Teacup 1 |
Description |
A white cylindrical teacup with a gold rim, slightly widening toward the top. On both the front and back, there is an image of a brown floral sprig composed of leaves and flowers. The sprig on the front points from left to right, featuring three flowers positioned near the center of the sprig. The leaves vary in size, with some small and others of a normal size. The teacup's handle, located on the left side, is shaped like a half square and has a bit of gold coloring. On the back of the teacup, the design mirrors the front but in reverse. A butterfly image is placed between the two sprigs. The top of the teacup is open, revealing the inside, and the bottom has a thick rim. According to Edwin Atlee of the Trenton Historical Society, the Potteries of Trenton Society, and the book Mains and Fitzgerald's Trenton, Chambersburg, and Millham Directory, Mercer Pottery operated in Trenton from around 1865 or 1868 until either the 1930s or 1946. By 1875, James Moses owned the company and claimed to have developed the first semi-porcelain ware in the United States. Citations: Barber, E. A. (n.d.). Marks of American potters. Trenton Historical Society, New Jersey. https://www.trentonhistory.org/Made/Marks.html Mains, Bishop W. and Thomas F. Fitzgerald. 1877-1879. Mains and Fitzgerald’s Trenton, Chambersburg and Millham Directory: Containing the Names of the Citizens, Statistical Business Report, Historical Sketches, a List of the Public and Private Institutions, Together with National, State, County, and City Government. Bishop W. Mains & Thomas F. Fitzgerald, Trenton, New Jersey. Mercer Pottery. Potteries of Trenton Society. (n.d.-c). https://potteriesoftrentonsociety.org/research/records/mercer-pottery-2/ |
Year Range from |
1865 |
Year Range to |
1946 |
Material |
Ceramic |
Artist |
Mercer Pottery Company |
Height (in) |
2.500 |
Length (in) |
3.750 |
Diameter (in) |
3.250 |
Condition |
Good |
Condition Notes |
Overall: Accretions and abrasions throughout Front: The floral sprig is slightly faded on top near the right edge. Also, there is a brown accretion on the bottom near the middle. Right Side: There are brown accretions on the center near the middle. Also, there is an abrasion on the bottom near the left edge. Back: There is gold paint bleeding on top near the middle. There is a black accretion on the bottom near the left edge. There is a black accretion on top near the right edge. And finally, the logo is faded on top near the right edge. Left Side: There is nothing of note. Top: There are two black accretions on the bottom of the inside. There are black accretions around the rim of the inside. There is an abrasion on the bottom of the inside near the center. There is an abrasion on the side of the inside. And finally, there is slight cracking near the bottom of the inside. Bottom: There is wear and abrasions around the rim. |
People |
James Moses |
Classification |
Domestic Life/Household Goods Business & Commerce |
Subjects |
Ceramic industry Flowers Plants Plant parts Water Tea Tea bags Tea Industry Drinking vessels |
Search Terms |
Ceramic Trenton Water Tea White Gold Brown Floral Sprig Flowers Leaves 1865 1868 1939 19th Century 20th Century Square John Moses Mercer Pottery Company Mercer Pottery Company Brown Floral Sprig Teacup |
Provenance |
Found in collection |