Ice can preserve all kinds of things - cleanly and clearly. Haruki Murakami

{HISTORY}

When you go out to eat, depending on the restaurant and where it is located, there are three ways to enjoy a glass of water - tepid, sparkling or iced. If you are anywhere besides America, most commonly water will come to your table in the tepid or sparkling form, but here in the States, we are hopelessly crazy for the iced variation. Having enjoyed that preference for almost two centuries, it is no wonder that American china company, Homer Laughlin, went out of their way to create big pitchers like this for the sole use of such a specific task.

Made for the hotel industry sometime between 1890-1904 at HL's East Liverpool, Ohio, factory this is a very rare piece of hotelware. With its pretty pink and peach color scheme and large size, it's fun to imagine it in a palm-filled hotel dining room full of chatty new century eaters and a white-gloved serving staff. 

There are no references to a specific hotel marked on the bottom, so the details of where it lived and whom it served are left up to our imaginations. But the great thing about this piece is that it has survived over 125 years so far, and based on its condition is ready to survive another 125 years more. Cheers to that! 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- Peachy orange lusterware near the rim

- Handpainted Victorian Gothic font 

- Floral design

- Ice shield 

- Colors include pink, beige, coffee and peach

- Stamped on bottom with Homer Laughlin mark

- Very rare pitcher

{CONDITION}

In lovely antique condition. There is a set of two old small chips on the inside rim of the splash guard. The larger one measures 1/2" inch in length. The smaller one measures 1/8" of an inch in size. A tiny pin prick-sized pit mark (which looks like a flaw that occurred during firing) has caused a little bit of crazing under the arc of the spout on the exterior. And the lustreware bears a few random rub marks, mostly in the areas where hands would have touched it to pour water (underneath the spout and on the top edge of the handle). Please see photos. 

{SIZE}

Measures 9.5"inches (height - top of spout to base) x 10" inches (length - spot to edge of handle) and 5" inches (width at opening) and weighs 3 lbs.

{FOR COLLECTORS}

Are you on the hunt for more antique treasures? Find more favorites here.