Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Masonic Knights Templar 3-handled Mug, Tancred Commandery No. 48, Pittsburgh, PA
1898
American China Co.
USA: Ohio, Toronto
Stoneware, paint
overall: 4"h x 6"dia.
Gift of Barry L. and Barbara D. Bayon
2017.041

Masonic Knights Templar 3-handled Mug, Tancred Commandery No. 48, Pittsburgh, PA. White stoneware 3-handled mug with royal blue, turquoise, gold, red, and brown paint decoration. Features flared rim and bulbous shape to body. Three handles of mug all feature same shape, rounded, with outcropping grips at both top and bottom; they are stippled with gold paint (worn, likely from handling). On each of the three panels between handles of mug, there is a different decoration: on one, an image of a large building that has a tall tower on PR side, many windows, and peaks on roof, with the text, "COURT HOUSE" at top and "HEADQUARTERS / 1898" at bottom, all in royal blue paint; on the second, the text "TANCRED COMMANDERY [text sloped downwards on sides and rising to a point at center] / No. [image of crown with red-painted passion cross through it] 48 / K.T. [decorative squiggles on either side] / PITTSBURGH, PA. [written in an arc whose ends curve upward] / 1898 [decorative squiggles on either side]", all in royal blue paint except for passion cross; and on the third, an image of a KT jewel with "48 / TANCRED / PA" on its pin bar, and a passion cross suspended below that features (top to bottom) a knight's helmet, two globes, a skull and crossbones, a delta, a shield with three red-painted leaves or flowers on it, and an unidentified geometric shape at the bottom, all in royal blue paint except the leaves/flowers. Each image has a white background; otherwise, surface of mug painted a light turquoise color. Surrounding sides and bottom of each image is a leaf pattern, which has raised portions that are painted gold. Rim is painted with a line of worn/faded gold paint. Bottom is white with shiny glaze and features manufacturer's mark in brown paint in center, "MADE BY / THE / AMERICAN CHINA CO. / TORONTO OHIO.", and numerous, 1/4" long, inward-oriented lines impressed around edge. Interior of mug has several bluish purple splotches in glaze near bottom.