Souvenir

Object numberA151

Date1845

Mediumglazed earthenware; frame: wood, glass, felt, paint, metal, paper label, in

Credit LineGift of Charles H. Butler

DescriptionFramed creamware dinner plate with scorch marks.Dimensions1.375 x 8.5 in. (3.5 x 21.6 cm)
Marksimpressed stamp: (poss.) "Wood" (illegible); paper label, and "2" on base, w/ accession info "1922"
Historical NotesThis china plate show the scars from the Great Fire of 1845. According to reports, one city store had a large inventory of china and queensware that survived the fire but ended up scarred by scorch marks from packing straw. Many Pittsburghers later acquired these pieces as fire souvenirs. Some even sent them to relatives in other cities and states.

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