New photography by Shannon Ruff captured with a digital camera-2006.

Covered Molasses Pitcher

Manufacturer McKee & Brothers

CultureAmerican

Dateca. 1860

MediumPillar-molded and blown glass with Britannia metal cover

DimensionsOverall: 10 1/2 in. (26.7 cm)
Base: 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm)

Credit LineMuseum purchase with funds donated by Mr. & Mrs. Samuel A. Face, Jr.

Object number90.59

On View

Chrysler Museum of Art, Gallery 116-3, Case 18

DescriptionMolasses pitcher and top. Pitcher of blown pillar-molded colorless glass. Pear-shaped body with eight vertical ribs. Applied collar at top. Solid handle terminating in a tooled leaf design. Applied foot with rough pontil. Scratches and one minor chip on underside of foot. Minor scuffs on body. Top of Britannia metal top. Hinged lid with a "C" scroll finial. Britannia finial is slightly bent.

Label TextPint Pillar Molasses Pitcher, Metal Top Probably McKee & Brother Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Ca. 1859 Blown pillar-molded glass. Britannia metal top. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel A. Face, Jr. 90.59 An identical vessel was illustrated in the 1859 catalogue of McKee & Brother. At $6.67 per dozen wholesale it was that firm's most expensive molasses can.Published ReferencesInnes, PITTSBURGH GLASS 1797-1891, fig. 192, pg. 200, for parallel object in Henry Ford Museum, which is opaque white glass cased with colorless & its finial is bent down. Innes & Spillman, MCKEE VICTORIAN GLASS, pp. 9, 26, and for later version see pp. 45 & 71, McKee catalogue reprint. This pitcher closely matches ill. in 1859/60 catalogue which is labeled "Pint Pill Mol Pitcher" and is more fully described under the heading Molasses Cans as "Pressed Pint Pillar Molasses Pitchers, Metal Tops...per doz. $6.67"-this was the most expensive molasses can offered.