nir pitcher from “Lincoln's Birthplace Kentucky.” The pitcher is 3 inches high and marked “PCA, Hand crafted, made in USA” on bottom.
During the Roaring Twenties and the decade that followed, travelers could find a blue-and-white plate with floral border promoting Mechanic Island or something depicting the Women’s League Building at the University of Michigan. They could pick-up a pitcher depicting the fabled House of Seven Gables or a clearly marked ashtray from Moose Jaw in Canada.
The 1939 World’s Fair in New York City was the site of an amazing array of souvenir pottery, ranging from various sized teapots and pitchers to hand-painted plates depicting the skyline of the Big Apple.
Certainly a great deal of souvenir pottery was produced in later years, especially plates which could be proudly propped up on cupboard shelves or hung on dining room walls. However the variety and quality seldom rivaled that which had been produced in such great numbers during its golden age.
Today souvenir pottery in unique forms such as animal figurals and structures are highly prized, along with images of buildings and other constructions which may no longer exists.
Recommended reading: “Collector’s Guide to Souvenir China,” by Laurence Williams (Schiffer Publishing) and “A Collector’s Guide to Souvenir Plates,” by Arene Burgess (Schiffer Publishing).
— by Robert Reed
WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth
Join WorthPoint on Twitter and Facebook.