Antique Ceramic Art Company CAC Tankard Art Nouveau Peacock Design
Product Description And Additional Pictures
We have a beautiful example of antique American porcelain, produced between 1894 and 1906, from the American Belleek producer that would soon become the world-renowned Lenox Company. Our antique, Ceramic Art Company (CAC) tankard, is hand-painted in an Art Nouveau design that features fanciful pink opalescent peacocks in a repeating chain, set against a metallic bronze background. The entire object has been painted free hand, without stencils or stamps, and the overall effect is both unusual and striking! The backstamp on this antique porcelain tankard is the one used by Ceramic Art Company CAC from 1894 until 1906, when the company name was changed to Lenox. The tankard stands 7-1/4" tall, with a top rim that is 3-1/8" in diameter, and a base that is 4" in diameter. This lovely and decorative antique American porcelain tankard is in excellent condition, with no nicks, chips, cracks, crazing or discoloration. The condition of the opalescent and metallic finishes on this piece are in very good condition, considering that the glaze finishes are at least 110 years old. Please see our photograph of the backstamp for this lovely piece: the artist brushed the metallic bronze finish across the bottom of the tankard, and his or her fingerprints are visible in the finish. A slight but charming remembrance of someone from long-ago! Please review our photos and we think you will agree that this antique American porcelain tankard would make an excellent addition to any antique porcelain or American Belleek collection! Please note that the light spots and light streaks that you see in the pictures are merely a result of the photographer's skill and not any issues with this wonderful tankard!
BRIEF HISTORY: The Ceramic Art Company was founded by two porcelain artisans, Jonathan Coxon and Walter Lenox, working in the Trenton, New Jersey area during the height of the American Belleek years. In 1889 they formed the Ceramic Art Company (CAC), to realize their own vision of Belleek production. Coxon left CAC in 1896, but the company thrived under Lenox's tireless efforts. By 1897, the company's catalog listed as many as 300 different items available for sale to the public. Even though Lenox was stricken by a serious illness that eventually left him blind and paralyzed, he maintained a firm hand on the company's operations. In 1900, he decided to expand CAC's product line to include tableware. In 1905 he hired Frank Holmes as CAC's chief designer, and in 1906 he changed the company's name to Lenox China. Over the years, Holmes was appointed to design three sets of White House China: one set for Woodrow Wilson in 1918 one set for Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1934, and one set for Harry S. Truman in 1951.