The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-11-05
PITCHER FAD
Mrs. A. F. R. Martin Loans
Her Collection to His
torical Society.
TWO THOUSAND SPECIMENS
All Known Kinds of Materials
to Be Seen in the
Lot.

Mrs A. F. r. Martins famous ceiiec-
ton of pitchers has been put aR exhi-
bition at the New Jersey Historical So-
ciety building on West Park street, New
ark. While there are only three or four
hundred arranged at present, the remain
der, amounting to nearly fifteen hun
are made. The backs of these cases will
be lined with mirrors. thus greatly m
creasing the beauty Of the old Lustre,
Copeland and Colonial blue china pitch-
ers. ranging in age from Egyptian pot
terry to Pan-American souvenirs. The
pitchers will be catalogued shortly by
Mrs Martin and divided in the cases by
groups-German with German, French
with French, and historical with histori-
CAL Many of the pitchers are valuable
to the owner only on account of their as
sociations, but of course add to the COM
pleteness of the collection.
The room, which was formerly the cata-
logue department of the old library and
is now repository of the part Of the
curious of the Historical Society, win hold
the exhibition of pitchers. With the brick
of the big fireplace as a background two
large Egyptian pitchers have been placed
In inches, bringing out the grotesque
contours of these old examples of the art.
Close by the door is case containing a
pyramid shaped holder. with the bewil-
dering array of miniature stems. Irish
bog wood pitchers, tiny agate vases. and
dainty little Lustre ware cream pitchers.
preston of the variety, and it is not un-
til one has looked over each individual
example that the rare quality of the coll
lection is appreciated.
Mrs. Martin is constantly making ad-
ltions to her array, the latest advent be-
ing the souvenir pitcher from the Pam
american Exposition. In this line there is
i beautiful bit of Copeland, very rare,
comnlemorating the Centennial EXPOSE
ton of 1916. The pitcher has three mouths
formed by the beaks of three American
eagles On the handles are American
coat-of-arras. while upon the eagles are
delicate United States flags. The souvenir
OF the worlds Fair is also in this part Of
The coiiectlon bit of blue Copeland.
when askei what is her most valuable
pitcher Mrs Martin shows clumsily
made example, with the United States
flag ruoeiy painted upon it. 1T would
cost 5000 to duplicate this one" she says,
..and the price is vouched for by tie Gov
ernment in the form Of a stamped guar
antee on It's base The pitcher is made
from the pulp OF macerated bank notes.
which the Government requires shall have
is former value printed upon it. The most
valuable specimen Of the collection is not
upon exhibition. but kept In the possession
Of the owner. It is Of gold, set with jew
els. made especially by New York firm
for Mrs. Martin, and in shape Is not
greatly unlike the America Cup. Another
one. in the form Of cup, cost nearly 500
in manufacture. 1t IS Of Russian gold. ln-
laid with curious enamel workings
Mrs. Martin is unable to state
the value Of her collection, 50 many
Of the pitchers being heiriooms or
gifts.
An interesting section Of the pitcher dis
play Is that Of pieces Of historical and
antiquarian interest. Especially priced is
4 queer colonial cream cup. over 200 years
old, with small balcony afkAir beneath
the mouth to guard against possible over-
flows This was gift Of Or. Noah
|1Rroolks, ii whose family il had lone been
Another Of considerable anti tiqu1ky
- hrs. Martin from her Grekt-