AAW Stock No.113 "Marguerite"

General
No. 113 is a design that was equally popular among brewers and non-brewers. Interestingly, this is one of the first design where we encounter examples from union organizations, not just commercial enterprises. Due to increased immigration in the late 19th and early 20th century, the population in the United States tripled between 1860 and 1910 with many of those entering the industrial work force. This meant that the supply of workers exceeded demand and industry bosses could keep wages low and working conditions poor and dangerous. Due to the increasing diversity of industries and specialized labor categories, unions evolved from general labor unions to more specialized trade-based unions, such as the Bakers & Confectionary International Workers Union of American, and Bauer und Maelzer Union (Brewers and Malters Union) represented among the examples for this design. Interestingly, this trend reversed during/following prohibition back to more general unions (e.g., the Brewery Workers Union) and union consolidation (the BWU eventually merged with bakery, soft drink and distillery workers) from the highly verticalized unions common prior to prohibition. A more detailed account specific to the brewing industry can be found in The Brewing Industry And The Brewery Workers Movement In America (1910) by Hermann Schluter.

There are numerous Marguerite characters in 19th century literature, but the most likely inspiration comes from an operatic version (by Charles Gounod) of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust. The Faust legend was the basis of numerous versions about the aging title character making a pact with Méphistophélès who tempts him with images of Marguerite at her spinning wheel to persuade Faust to buy Méphistophélès's services on Earth in exchange for Faust's in Hell. In a pivotal scene where the ground is laid for the eventual seduction of Marguerite, she appears in a garden contemplating the competing affections of Faust and young Siebel. The opera was very popular with numerous productions in the early 20th century.

There is no Sahling workbook entry for this 1911 copyright design; however, he has limited entries for that year, apparently leaving American Art Works for cross-town rival H.D. Beach Co for several months (August-November) before returning to AAW.

Shape & Rim and Advertising Placement
The vast majority of tray examples we’ve encountered have been small oblongs (11x14) which appears to have been the prevailing size/shape in 1910/1911. We have encountered a few 13” concave pie versions, which we believe to have been issued later when that shape was more prevalent (1912 and beyond). Detroit brewer Koppitz-Melcher made use of both styles. We have seen a few TOC sign versions, and one rectangular tip tray from T&B Cigars for their Tuckett’s Marguerite cigars. Rims are black with gold advertising text.

Hager & Price
Hager does not discuss this design but does include it in his date of introduction table for 1911. It is included in his catalog of images. Prices for both brewery and non-brewery examples are relatively low, with $500 being the top price paid for an excellent version from Union Brewing of Anaheim, CA. Non-brewery versions rarely command three figures.