The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-01-02

Q]IlCQlL, because Lfe cups OF LIldJ Ut
cedure, there, was to pour a small a.
for drinking, and set the cup on a
that purpose.
The first cup plates we're Of
china, but when pressed glass be-
came popular, the glass ones were
used. About 1870 patriotic and his
toric designs were introduced into
all glassware and the cup plates
reflected this trend. Patterns were
made represented William Henry
Harrison, Henry Clay, Jennie Lind,
Bunker Hill. Old Ironsides, and such
subjects of current and historic in
terest.
The American eagle was featured
in ten different designs, and the
battle of Bunker Hill was COM
mOrated in four designs. The one
illustrated was sold at the time of
the dedication of the Bunker Hill
monument in 1877. This type was
made at the Sandwich factory, and
as the supply of $500 was sold the
first day, the factory worked all
night to make a thousand more,
which were sent to Boston in the
morning.
TINE inscription around the plate
L reads From the Fair to the
Brave" which means that the ladies
by their efforts had succeeded in
collecting money to finish the mon
ument. Lafayette had laid the
cornerstone in 1925 at the time of
his visit to America, but lack of
funds had delayed it's completion.
Harrisons log cabin campaign
brought out many designs, the Fort
Meigs, Older Barrel, and Log Cabin,
all reminiscent of this cOlorful
patriot. We all remember the slogan
of this campaign, "Tippecanoe and
Tyler, Too" Harrison was called
Tippecance because he defeated Te-
cumseh at the Battle Of Tippecanoe,
as all ardent Indianians know.
The story of this popular Presi-
dent must have been well known,
as only the Fort Neige has an in
scription and it simply says Tip
pecanoe." Evidently the emblemS
of the campaign were sufficiently
descriptive although Harrison's pro-
file appears on some that are dated
1841. The Bee Hive is the pref
test of the plates carrying a Har-
rison emblem.
The ship plates are very romantic.
One pictures the "Cadmus," which
brought Lafayette to America for
his triumphal visit. Another shows
the chancellor Livingston" named
for Robert Livingston, and one
called the Benjamin Franklin is
a side wheeler flying three flags.
The Robert Fulton" is the only
boat on cup plate that has no
sails.
TINE most elegant of the cup
Il plates are the three designs of
octagional shape called the 'Frigate
Constitution" the Steamboat Rob
ert Fulton" and the washington,
which is the rarest. The Kentucky
patriot, Henry Clay, was honCrcd
with six cup plate designs, each With
border of cornucopias. The large
one, 81 inches in diameter, is next
to the Washington in value.
Jenny Lind's tour of the United
States under the superb Snowman
ship of P. T. Barnum created quite
a furore. Naturally, her figure was
used on cup plates. The original
mold for the Jenny Lind" plate,
made at the Whitney Glass Works,
Glassboro, N. j., is still in existence
Although most Of the cup plate
designs held some significance, a few
were merely decorative. They fea-
tTed such motifs as the Tyre used
by Duncan Phyfe in his furniture.
and similar designs popular at the
time.
Cup plate types are so well known
that a complete collection can be
produced to fit the enthusiasts in
clination and pocketbook. To own
all the boat plates could be one OBJ
jective. Another could be acquisi-
ton of all the Eagle or Harrison
plates Each or all would be an en-
gaging endeavor.
Placed on black velvet in a cab
met, they would make a collection of
diversity and charms with which the
/ dweller in even the smallest apart
ment could satisfy the longing for
mementoes from the past.