Bidspirit auction | Higgins & Seiter Hotel Astor

Higgins & Seiter Hotel Astor 1909 Dutchess County Society Banquet Mug - A ceramic commemorative banquet mug produced for the Thirteenth Annual Banquet of the Dutchess County Society of New York, held at the Hotel Astor. The piece features a central heraldic crest for Dutchess County on one side, depicting two orange lions supporting a blue shield containing a golden wheat sheaf, topped by a crown and surrounded by a green laurel wreath. A blue ribbon below the crest is inscribed with the text THE DUTCHESS COUNTY and includes a Maltese-style star. The opposite side displays black transfer-printed text in a combination of Gothic and script fonts reading: Thirteenth Annual Banquet / Old Friends are the best Friends and / You cant get old Friends in a Day / Hotel Astor January 9th 1909. The vessel is finished in a cream-colored glaze with decorative orange and blue bands at the rim, a black band at the base, and an orange stripe detailing the handle. The underside of the base features a purple stamped mark for Higgins & Seiter New York and an incised number 16. Three stilt marks from the kiln firing process are visible on the bottom. Height: 4.75 inches. The mug shows light allover glaze crazing consistent with age. There is significant wear and loss to the orange and blue painted bands at the upper rim. A small chip is visible on the outer edge of the top rim. The body exhibits scattered minor pitting, small dark spots, and minor surface soiling.