EAPG Ruby Flashed Souvenir Creamer Whitehead Nova Scotia – McKee OMN No.139 Banded Hearts c1897

This is an EAPG ruby flashed pressed glass souvenir creamer or small pitcher issued as a souvenir of Whitehead, Nova Scotia. The pitcher is made of clear pressed glass with a ruby flashed overlay and silver lettering reading “Souvenir of Whitehead, N.S.”

The glass body is produced in the No. 139 (OMN) pattern by McKee & Brothers, a well-known American pressed glass manufacturer operating in Pittsburgh and Jeannette, Pennsylvania from 1853 to 1899. The pattern was introduced in 1897, placing the production of this piece in the late Victorian period.

The pressed design is known as Banded Hearts. The clear applied handle and flared pouring lip are typical forms used for small creamers and souvenir pitchers of this era.

Souvenir glassware of this type was popular in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when decorative keepsakes were produced for visitors to towns and resorts. The ruby flashing was created by applying a thin layer of red glass over clear pressed glass, after which the town name was added in printed lettering.

Whitehead itself is a small coastal fishing community in Nova Scotia, recently maintaining a population of roughly 50 to 120 residents. Souvenir items from such small communities are encountered less frequently than those from larger tourist destinations.

Measurements

Height: 4 inches

Condition:  In very good antique condition. The ruby flashing and silver lettering remain visible. There is light wear to the ruby surface and minor surface marks consistent with age and handling.  The gold trim to the top edge is somewhat worn. No cracks or repairs observed.

This is a charming example of late Victorian pressed glass souvenir ware, combining an identified McKee EAPG pattern with the history of a small Nova Scotia coastal community.