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Commemorative Plate and Original Box
Commemorative Plate and Original Box

Commemorative Plate and Original Box

Maker (American)
Date1976
MediumPlate (.a): Mechanically-molded porcelain with overglaze gold and yellow enamels; wire; and plastic. Box Top (.b): Clear plastic with gilded lettering. Box Bottom (.c): White cardboard.
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (diameter of plate): 7 9/16in. (19.2cm)
Primary Dimensions (width x depth of box): 7 5/8 x 7 5/8in. (19.4 x 19.4cm)
ClassificationsCeramics
Credit LineGift of Harry Lappen Fireside Center
DescriptionRound, commemorative porcelain plate (.a) in its original, square, plastic and cardboard box (.b and .c).

Plate (.a): The plate is decorated with a printed blue overglaze enamel pattern and border. The circular pattern, located in the center of the plate, is titled, "FORT GRISWOLD STATE PARK/ Monument marks site of British Victory/ under Benedict Arnold 1781". The pattern shows a tall stone obelisk, a low stone structure with a hipped roof, and a commemorative statue in a grove of trees next to a road. A sign next to the road probably reads, "FORT/ GRISWOLD". There is an American flag in the far left distance. This is surrounded by a blue border of white laurel semi-circles on a blue background. Above, in a break in the laurel, is the word "CONNECTICUT" in gold letters. Below, the date "1976" is written in gold letters on a banner. The back of the plates indicates that this is plate number one in a series of commemorative plates in the "Royal Blue Chateau" line by Tidemark Company of Winter Park, Florida. Additionally, there is a small wire loop embedded into a yellow plastic disc that is glued to the porcelain.

Box Top (.b): The square, flimsy, clear plastic box top has small pieces of tape adhered to each side. The manufacturer's mark is printed in gold lettering in the center of the top. This consists of three shafts of wheat with the letters "TM" below. Beneath this the lettering continues, "ROYAL BLUE/ CHATEAU/ COLLECTOR'S/ PLATES/ mfg. by TIDEMARK CO./ WINTER PARK, FLORIDA 32789". The box top has one spot of inappropriate crease lines along the left edge.

Box Bottom (.b): The thin, white, square cardboard box bottom has small pieces of tape adhered to each side. "# 1" is hand-written in blue ink on the bottom of the box.
Object number1976.90.0a-c
NotesHistorical Note: Fort Griswold, located in Groton, Connecticut, was commanded by Colonel William Ledyard (1738-1781). It fell to British troops on 6 September 1781.
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