The 'Stock' Exchange
American Art Works  No. 111  "Chrysanthemum Girl"
Date:  1910 - 1915
Size:   10.5" x 13.25"
Type: 
Pie
Scarcity:  Common
Value:  $$$ to $$$$
Condition & Brewer Dependent
Stock
Reading, PA
Geo. W. Auge & Co.
Reading, PA
Westchester, NY
Jos. Berran & Co.
Westchester, NY
Escanada, MI
Bink Wholesale Liquor & Supply Co.
Escanada, MI
Knoxville, TN
Tenn-Cola
Knoxville, TN
Helena, ??
Brazier's Chocolates
Helena, ??
Qunicy, IL
Ruff Brewing Co.
Qunicy, IL

Confirmed Brewer used Stock Trays


Non-Beer Related & Non-Tray Uses

General
No. 111 Chrysanthemum Girl, is one of the more common stock designs and must have endured in the catalog for a number of years.  We have encountered some examples with a paper label affixed to the back with the following text:

"Chrysanthemum Girl is a companion piece to “Carnation Girl” one of the biggest successes ever issued. Both pictures were painted by W H McEntee master portrayer of beautiful girls. In this latest production he has painted a girl just entering young womanhood. She has been studying the miniature of her mother which she holds in her hand. As she looks up from the picture the determination which she has just reached to be as sincere and noble a woman as her mother is plainly seen upon her face. Nor do we doubt her ability to carry out this determination when we look at the noble poise of her head, her clear-cut features, her absolutely sincere expression and the clear steady gaze of her clear brown eyes. You are as pure gold as the chain about your neck and the golden chrysanthemum which caresses your hair “Chrysanthemum Girl”. Great popularity will be yours."

In the United States, chrysanthemums symbolize friendship, happiness, and well-being. They are often tied to the arrival of autumn since they are one of the most popular fall flowers.  Yellow chrysanthemums frequently symbolize happiness, joy, and celebration.  The variety in this design are knowns as spider chrysanthemums for their long, tubular petals that often go off in all different directions, looking lacy and elegant

Sahling has no entry in his workbook for this design for a full-sized tray but does have an entry in May 1911 for “Stock 4 ½ tray, Chrysanthemum Girl.”  The date seems a bit odd since the full-size trays carry a 1910 copyright date, but typically the tip tray sizes came after the full size-tray versions.  What is odd is that Sahling has no entry for the full-size tray until August 1913 when an entry appears for “Stock tray No. 111, oblong, Bunte Bros.”  Bunte Brothers was a Chicago candy maker than operated from 1876 until the 1950s.  We’ve seen a number of fabulous tins that contained their products, but sadly no tray with this design.

Size & Shape and Advertising Placement
Almost all of the examples of full-sized trays we have encountered have all been small oblongs with the exception of a single 13” pie by Rubsam & Horman.  We have also seen a rectangular sign that appears to be an unpressed tray for Ruff Brewing.  As noted above in the comment regarding Sahling’s workbook, there are a few tip size versions as well.  Rims are black with gold advertising text.

Hager & Price
Hager does not discuss this design but includes it in his date table as being introduced in 1910. He does include it in his catalog.  This may be one of the more affordable stock designs with brewery examples frequently only going in the low triple digits.  Several years ago, a better than average Isengart Brewing (Troy, NY) did better than $1,500 and an especially nice Milwaukee Brewery of San Francisco example sold for more than $1,000.  Non-brewery examples rarely go for more than double figures.
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