Cobalt Blue China

[benjamintickell53]

Missouri Pacific used cobalt blue china as service pieces most likely in the pre-Eagle dining car era. Luckin’s Encyplopedia of Dining Car China states that 5 different shapes were produced, but does not provide additional details. None of these items are particularly common, but the “least rare” is probably the MP ash tray with a center island for matches. This item was produced in two slightly different versions, as pictured. A similar piece was produced for T&P, with a T&P diamond in place of the MP buzzsaw. It is currently unknown whether other T&P cobalt pieces were produced. Ashtrays were unglazed on the base, and had a circular Hall backstamp in the ceramic, usually in blue ink. Both the MP buzzsaw and the T&P diamond were relatively crude applications, reminiscent of “rubber stamp” impressions. Thanks to RRcommissary.com for permission to use some of their illustrations.

Bill Pollard

[attachment=1:2a4t84ik]MPCobalt-ashtray-high-mount-w.jpg[/attachment:2a4t84ik]

[attachment=0:2a4t84ik]MPCobalt-ashtray-low-mount-w.jpg[/attachment:2a4t84ik]

[attachment=4:2a4t84ik]T&P-ashtray-w.jpg[/attachment:2a4t84ik]

[attachment=3:2a4t84ik]T&P-ashtray-backstamp-w.jpg[/attachment:2a4t84ik]

[attachment=2:2a4t84ik]T&P-ashtray2.JPG[/attachment:2a4t84ik]

[princessclyne69]

That cobalt blue MP ashtray shows up on eBay from time to time, perhaps the same one that goes unsold. I’ve been reluctant to bid on this one, just because I thought it might be a fake. I’ll look at it more closely the next time it shows up.

Since it showed up with some regularity, it also occurred to me that it might be one of those things like the glass ashtrays, that there’s a box full of them and the seller puts one up every so often, just as a recurring source of income.

RG7

[benjamintickell53]

Another cobalt shape that is often seen is the 3 7/8″ (base to rim) chocolate pot. This pot has the Missouri Pacific buzzsaw on one side, and the concave part of the base is glazed. The pots made by Hall have HALL incised or cut into the base, with the letters filled by the cobalt glazing. On close examination with a strong light, a circular HALL backstamp can also be seen. In the case of very dark cobalt glazing, these markings are difficult to see. On one example, Halls China has been hand painted in gold as a circular backstamp, generally over the HALL backstamp. Inasmuch as the other gold decorations on these pots (gold rim on lid and spout, gold trim on handle) were all hand painted, it seems possible that this painted backstamp was a factory version.

Note the difference in lids in the two pots. It is unknown whether the flat lid on the “gold backstamp” pot is a replacement of some sort or whether it was original, denoting that the pot was used for a different purpose.

Thanks to Jay Reed and RailroadCommissary.com for allowing use of their photos to supplement this discussion.

Bill Pollard

[attachment=5:1tna4sgw]MPCobaltpot10043.jpg[/attachment:1tna4sgw]

[attachment=4:1tna4sgw]MPCobaltpot10043b-w.jpg[/attachment:1tna4sgw]

[attachment=1:1tna4sgw]another pot.jpg[/attachment:1tna4sgw]

[attachment=0:1tna4sgw]another pot-2.jpg[/attachment:1tna4sgw]

[attachment=3:1tna4sgw]Halls-gold-backstamp-w.jpg[/attachment:1tna4sgw]

[attachment=2:1tna4sgw]Halls-gold-backstamp-top-w.jpg[/attachment:1tna4sgw]

[benjamintickell53]

A similar MoPac cobalt pot was manufactured by Fraunfelter China, Zanesville, Ohio. This pot is slightly taller than the Halls version (4″ versus 3 7/8″) and is slightly heavier. The concave section of the base is not glazed. Fraunfelter China operated from 1923 to 1939, a much shorter time period than Hall China’s 1903 to present production period, which no doubt accounts for the lack of information about MP use of this manufacturer. Restaurant China, Volume II, by Conroy, lists the “known” railroad customers as CN, C&NW, GN, IC, NYC, SP and Uintah. Obviously Missouri Pacific should also be listed as a customer.

Bill Pollard

[attachment=2:1jwdwmx0]FR-1-w.jpg[/attachment:1jwdwmx0]

[attachment=1:1jwdwmx0]FR-2-w.jpg[/attachment:1jwdwmx0]

[attachment=0:1jwdwmx0]FR-backstamp-w.jpg[/attachment:1jwdwmx0]

[benjamintickell53]

1970s notes from a deceased MP china collector indicate that he was aware of at least 5 different pieces of MP cobalt china. His description follows:
ashtray
small teapot
round teapot like Syracuse made in ATSF California Poppy or Mimbreno style
tall cocoa (?) pot
trivet, possibly for salt and pepper shakers

Bill Pollard

[benjamintickell53]

An earlier post raised the issue of the gold “Hall’s China” backstamp seen on one version of the MoPac cobalt teapot, with a question of whether this might be counterfeit. Since that time, another example of the gold backstamp has been discovered on a Palmer House (Chicago) ash tray. Like the MoPac teapot, this piece is marked both with the blue Halls circular stamp and also with the gold Halls backstamp as well as the Palmer House identification. In view of this other example, it is now presumed that at one time, Hall’s utilized the gold backstamp to better identify their production and is thus legitimate.

Bill Pollard

[attachment=1:1cfn45f4]palmer-house.jpg[/attachment:1cfn45f4]

[attachment=0:1cfn45f4]backstamp-1.jpg[/attachment:1cfn45f4]

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