Images(2)

Plate, Commemorative

Object number2017.33.1

Manufacturer Sabin Industries, Inc.

Retailer Gimbel Brothers

Date1958

OriginUnited States

MediumCeramic; Glaze; Paint; Gold

Credit LineGift of Edward Arnold

DescriptionOctagonal white ceramic plate with 22K gold rim. Each of the eight sides meets with an inward dip. Shallow sloped wall. Front center has a color circular section with a color illustration of downtown Pittsburgh and the Point at center surrounded by six color illustrations of Pittsburgh-area landmarks.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 0.75 × 9.25 × 9.25 in. (1.9 × 23.5 × 23.5 cm)
InscriptionsFront has black text between the airport illustration and the downtown illustration "1758-1958 / PITTSBURGH BICENTENNIAL".

Front has black illustration captions at bottom center "THE / GOLDEN / TRIANGLE" and, clockwise from top center "THE BEAUTIFUL MODERN / TERMINAL BUILDING / of / GREATER PITTSBURGH / AIRPORT... / Moon Township", "THE / CENTER OF / THE COAL / INDUSTRY", "CATHEDRAL / OF LEARNING / University of Pittsburgh", "CALLED THE MOST BRIDGED / CITY IN THE WORLD", "BLOCK HOUSE / BUILT 1764", and "1/5 OF THE / NATION'S STEEL / IS PRODUCED / WITHIN 35 MILES OF / PITTSBURGH".
MarksGray mark inside foot, off-center, consists of an artist palette with three brushes behind, an "S" at center and text at top "Made in U.S.A." and bottom "Warranted 22K" of palette.
Historical NotesPittsburgh bicentennial commemorative plate documenting the year-long celebration of the 1958-1959 Pittsburgh bicentennial based on the founding of Fort Pitt. The theme of the bicentennial was “Gateway to the Future” playing off the former title of Pittsburgh as “Gateway to the West”. The bicentennial kicked off with a big celebration on November 27, 1958, which is the day that General Forbes wrote a letter to William Pitt renaming it Fort Pitt after capturing it from the French two days earlier. The plate was purchased at Gimbel’s department store, which along with Kaufmann’s and Horne’s, was one of the major downtown department stores. In 2016, Pittsburgh also celebrated the bicentennial of the incorporation of the city.

Related institution University of Pittsburgh

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