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2076
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Souvenir China Dish Old North Church Boston MA Jonroth Adams Revere
Nifty piece of vintage souvenir china for a historical church building in Massachusetts associated with the American Revolution. This is a small dish or low bowl showing the Old North Church in Boston, Mass.
From some internet research, the Old North Church was built in 1723. It is perhaps most famous as the starting point for the legendary ride of Paul Revere in 1775 during the Revolutionary War. Paul Revere had requested lanterns to be hung in the church steeple as a signal for him to begin his ride, "One if by land, two if by sea...", as told by Henry W. Longfellow in his poem, Paul Revere's Ride. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places (was designated as a National Historic Landmark) in 1961.
We believe this souvenir item was made in the early to mid 1900's from the markings on the backside. The back states "Old English Staffordshire Ware" in a curve above the Jonroth, England crown & circle mark, with "Made by Adams England" below this. Jonroth was an importer of souvenir pieces (brought in under the brand name, Old English Staffordshire Ware), who used several manufacturing companies in England for production, in this case using the William Adams & Sons factory.
The small dish is round with a diameter of 3 1/4 inches and sits 1/2 inch in height. This piece is china or pottery, not porcelain since it is not translucent. The coloring is red & white, with the graphics a red transfer design on white base pottery. The topside show part of the church and its steeple with nearby buildings, with "Old North Church" at the top. Please note that the transfer of the word "North" as made is not clear like the other words, with over-striking or double striking effecting the "R" and "T" so the word looks longer than it should and doesn't read clearly.
We've provided 8 images, showing both sides, from differing angles and close-ups. Please note that the camera light causes white "hot spot" reflections, sometimes "blanding out" some of the detail, so some of the images were shot without the camera light (which makes these photos seem darker). Please use the zoom feature to examine closely. This piece weighs about 1 1/2 ounces unpacked and will be shipped in a box for safety.
Very nice overall condition, with no chips or cracks. We can see the beginning of crazing on this piece, with a large curved crazing line in the glaze and a few smaller lines off this, in the vicinity of the "Old North Church" wording on the topside (we don't see any crazing anywhere else, and these are lines in the glazing, not cracks in the piece). There are some pin/pit dots in the glazing and stray red dots from the transfer process as made, a few tiny surface scratches/wear marks (you need to look at an angle in bright light to see these), and likely other minor age wear, but nothing bad. On the underside there are some unglazed spots as made and another light spot on top of the glazing that we aren't sure if this is a glazing error or a spot of some sort made on this piece later. Please see earlier note regarding the manufacturing transfer process with the word "North".
A fun piece to add to any collection of MA or Boston souvenirs, a collection related to churches, buildings & architecture, or one related to historical places associated with Paul Revere and the War for Independence. Could also make an interesting small gift for a lover of Longfellow literature and his poems.
Manufacturer: Adams China
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1415
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Souvenir China Adams Jonroth Barbara Fritchie Home House, Frederick MD
Nifty antique or vintage souvenir china piece for Barbara Fritchie's Home or The Barbara Fritchie House & Museum in Frederick, Maryland, showing an outdoor view of the house. The plate has blue and white coloring in the traditional "flow blue" type blue color (the images may make the coloring seem darker due to camera lighting, but this is a traditional rich medium blue color within the range of blue seen with Flow Blue/Flo Blue plates). Fully marked on the backside as having been made by Adams Potteries for Jonroth (an importer of souvenir pieces) in Staffordshire England, and marked as having been imported specifically for The Barbara Fritchie House & Museum. From the style and markings, we believe this piece to date to the 1900s teens through 1930s period, although no manufacturer date appears on the piece.
From a little research, Barbara Fritchie (whose name has also been spelled Barbara Frietchie and Barbara Frietschie) was made famous in a patriotic 1864 poem by John Greenleaf Whittier titled Barbara Frietchie, and an 1899 play with the same name by Clyde Fitch. She was a real woman who lived from 1766 to 1862, lived the later part of her life in Frederick, MD and was a Unionist during the Civil War. The poem focuses on a story which made her a legendary American hero, by waving the American flag (Stars and Stripes) from an upper window in her home in defiance of Stonewall Jackson and his Confederate troops as they marched by. Apparently when Winston Churchill passed through Federick in 1943 he stopped at the house and recited the poem. The location was a privately owned museum which used to be open to the public, but an internet listing stated that it is now closed.
Round plate measuring about 6 7/8 inches in diameter and sitting about 5/8 inch in height. Frontside center picture shows the house and nearby building. This is surrounded by a floral motif near the plate edge. At the bottom center appear the words "Barbara Fritchie's Home, Frederick, MD." On the backside is quoted several lines from John Greenleaf Whittier's poem. The poem title appears, Barbara Fritchie, and then a scroll with the lines "Up rose old Barbara Fritchie then. Bowed with her fourscore years and ten; Bravest of all in Frederick town, She took up the flag the men hauled down: "Shoot, if you must, this old gray head, But spare your country's flag", she said." Below this there is a a curve "Old English Staffordshire Ware" within which appears the insignia with crown for "Jonroth England". Under this are the words "Made by the Adams Potteries. Est 1657, Staffordshire England, Imported for The Barbara Fritchie House & Museum, Frederick, MD." We've provided 6 images to show different views and close-ups including close-ups of the graphic, location wording and the manufacturer markings. Please note that the white "hot spots" are reflections from the camera lighting on the high gloss surface.
This piece is in wonderful condition for it's age, with nothing major wrong with it. The topside of the plate does have some small surface scratches but nothing bad and you only see these when looking at the plate very closely when held at an angle in bright light. To us, we don't think it was ever used but perhaps was just displayed on a shelf. There are pin/pit dots in the glazing. We don't see any crazing on the topside and only a few crazing lines on the underside. There are no chips, cracks, etc. A terrific looking piece.
A great addition to any collection of vintage souvenir memorabilia related to Maryland in general, the city of Frederick or a collection related to local history or tourist attractions. Would also make a great gift for someone interested in the poetry of John Greenleaf Whittier, legendary American heroes, famous American women historical figures, Barbara Fritchie in particular or perhaps someone interested in Civil War stories and history. Would be a nice piece for adding to a general collection of antique Jonroth China or Adams China pieces.
Manufacturer: Adams Potteries
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1243
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Souvenir China Mug Washington's Headquarters Valley Forge PA Adams
Nifty antique collectible souvenir china mug in red and white with image of Washington's Headquarters in Valley Forge, PA from Valley Forge National Park. Made by Adams Potteries for Jonroth (an importer of souvenir pieces) in Staffordshire, England. This piece is china, ceramic or pottery; it is not porcelain as it is not translucent. Measures 4 1/4 inches in height, about 4 1/2 inches in greatest width (from outside of handle to opposite end of mug), and about 3 9/16 inches in depth. We don't know the age of this vintage piece, but we guesstimate that it could date to the 1920s or 1930s from the style.
Neat, clean white pottery with transfer image in red of George Washington's head quarters in Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War on both sides of the mug, with an upper rim border of floral and geometric trim. There is a red line decor on the squarish, angular handle. Shape of the mug is largely round with fluting...it is not a circle but has a wavy, fluted feel to the top and bottom edges and overall body of the mug as molded. At the bottom of the image on both sides are printed the words, "Washington's Headquarters, 1777-78 Valley Forge, PA" (Pa, Pennsylvania, Penn., Penna.). The old mug is fully marked on the underside base with, "Old English Staffordshire Ware, Jonroth, England" with the Jonroth crown insignia, and under this, "Made in Staffordshire England by the Adams Potteries established in 1657." There is also a transfer "E" in black that is partially visible on the underside. We have provided six images showing from different sides including close-ups and the manufacturer marking.
Excellent condition, with no chips, cracks or crazing. There are a few stray scratches or rubbed marks but nothing major and nothing to worry about. As manufactured, there are some stray transfer red dots, pin & pit dots, tiny dark dots, etc., but nothing bad or unexpected. There is one spot along the rim which has some very tiny dark dots and perhaps a touch of glaze wear, but nothing bad at all (no chips, we're looking very, very close to find this). And two spots on the sides near the rim where there is a touch of wear to the red transfer, but this may be incomplete transferring as it was made, we don't know, this doesn't look worn to us. This mug is very clean and good-looking, looking to us as if it was never used but just sat on a shelf on display. There is expected wear/darkening to the underside base from age sitting.
A lovely piece to add to any collection of souvenir china relating to Valley Forge, Valley Forge National Park, George Washington at Valley Forge or items related to the Revolutionary War in America overall. Also a nice addition to any collection of Jonroth Studios or Adams Potteries pieces. Could make an interesting gift for anyone interested in national park collectibles or memorabilia or items related to President George Washington or this period in history.
Manufacturer: Adams Potteries
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