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This could very well be the only one of these mugs in existence. Representing an amazing part of an American industrial age history please view all the details below and all the photos and enjoy.!!!
STUNNING 1899 BPOE ELKS INDUSTRIAL EXPOSITION & STREET CARNIVAL SOUVENIR MUGManufactured by The American China Co. (Toronto, Ohio) for Allegheny, PA Lodge No. 339A premier, highly collectible piece of Gilded Age fraternal history and "lost" Western Pennsylvania civic heritage. This multi-handled ceramic shaving mug/cup was produced as a limited-run souvenir for the historic two-week street fair held from July 10 to 22, 1899.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Local Pittsburgh History: This piece was issued by the Elks Lodge of Allegheny City, Pennsylvania—a booming industrial city that was fiercely independent until it was controversially annexed by Pittsburgh in 1907. This is a true artifact of a "lost city," representing what is now Pittsburgh's historic North Side.
Ohio Pottery Heritage:
The underside features the crisp, rare backstamp of "Made by The American China Co., Toronto, O." This historic Ohio pottery house only operated from 1895 to 1910, making their surviving, localized event pieces highly sought after by Tri-State pottery enthusiasts.
It Features a beautifully detailed, textured relief medallion of an Elk head on a deep royal purple ground. The reverse features an ornate, gold-gilded scroll reading: "Elks Industrial Exposition, Street Carnival and Midway-Plaisance — July 10 to 22, 1899."
CONDITION:Excellent antique condition given its 127-year age. The mug is structurally sound with no deep chips or hairline cracks on the body or handles. The interior glaze is very clean. There is beautiful, age-appropriate light wear and fading to the gold gilt highlights on the rim and text border, along with typical fine glaze crazing on the white porcelain surfaces as shown. Please inspect all high-resolution photos for exact cosmetic details. Ships packed carefully, enjoy!!!
