Tile in Metal Trivet Mount
International Tile Company
1 of 2
Caption
International Tile Company. Tile in Metal Trivet Mount, ca. 1882–1888. Earthenware, metal, 1 1/4 x 6 5/8 x 6 3/4 in. (3.2 x 16.8 x 17.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of Marie Bernice Bitzer, by exchange, 1995.56. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Manufacturer
Title
Tile in Metal Trivet Mount
Date
ca. 1882–1888
Geography
Place manufactured: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Medium
Earthenware, metal
Classification
Dimensions
1 1/4 x 6 5/8 x 6 3/4 in. (3.2 x 16.8 x 17.1 cm)
Markings
Molded on bottom: "I. T. Co. / B I W [in pretzel] / B. N. Y."; incised free-hand, " Mar[?] 2/2 990 W"
Credit Line
Bequest of Marie Bernice Bitzer, by exchange
Accession Number
1995.56
Frequent Art Questions
Can you tell me more about this tile?
This tile was made in Brooklyn in the 1880s. At this time, American designers were strongly influenced by the decorative arts of Asia. The scene being can be found on many pieces of 18th century Chinese and Japanese porcelain. It shows the hero Sze-Ma Kwang (called Shiba Onko in Japan) saving the life of a child by breaking the large jar into which the youngster had fallen. This story was also copied by many English pottery makers, who described the pattern as “Hob in the Well”.
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