Discontinued & limited edition 1987 Avon collectible stoneware beer stein commemorating the San Francisco / California Gold Rush of 1849, featuring very detailed and in relief pictorial of a gold miner / prospector panning for gold, old town San Francisco and a Conestoga line of stage coaches filled with gold miners heading into California. The thumblift and lid are electroplated in gold with gold trim.
This highly collectable vintage stein is numbered on the base in gold under glaze and was handcrafted in Brazil exclusively for AVON PRODUCTS, INC and was distributed only during 1987.
In January 1848, James Wilson Marshall discovered gold while constructing a saw mill along the American River northeast of present-day Sacramento. The discovery was reported in the San Francisco newspapers in March but caused little stir as most did not believe the account.
The spark that ignited the gold rush occurred in May 1848 when Sam Brannan, a storekeeper in Sutter's Creek, brandished a bottle filled with gold dust around San Francisco shouting "Gold! Gold! Gold from American River!" The residents of the city now had proof of the discovery and the stampede to the gold fields was on. San Francisco's harbor was soon cluttered with derelict ships deserted by their crews. Workers abandoned their jobs - San Francisco's two newspapers were forced to close their doors as their staffs were struck by gold fever. The populations of many of the coastal towns were depleted as prospective prospectors headed to the gold fields.
The New York Herald printed news of the discovery in August 1848 and the rush for gold accelerated into a stampede. Gold seekers traveled overland across the mountains to California (30,000 assembled at launch points along the plains in the spring of 1849) or took the round-about sea routes: either to Panama or around Cape Horn and then up the Pacific coast to San Francisco. A census of San Francisco (then called Yerba Buena) in April 1847 reported the town consisted of 79 buildings including shanties, frames houses and adobes. By December 1849, the population had mushroomed to an estimated 100,000. The massive influx of fortune seekers Americanized the once Mexican province and assured its inclusion as a state in the union. "The California Gold Rush, 1849" EyeWitness to History, www.eyewitnesstohistory.com (2003)
Crafted of beautifully detailed glazed ceramic pottery, this beer stein features a softly burnished gold plated thumblift and a "leather stitched" handle.
The base color is a creamy beige with double banded gold trim near the lip and another near the base. Unused condition, with no chips, cracks or other damage to note.
Avon began life as the California Perfume Company in 1886 in New York City by David Hall McConnell and his wife Lucy who created and began manufacturing a line of perfumes. They sold their perfumes through a lady, Mrs. P.F.E. Albee, now known as the First Avon Sales Representative. Enlisting more representatives, the company grew and by 1896 issued its first catalog for customers to choose from.
In 1976, Avon began producing beer steins. Steins have been used by beer and ale drinkers for over 500 years. The Avon beer steins are ceramic or metal and made in Brazil. Some of the original steins were filled with cologne and some came with just the stein themselves.
Along the way, Avon hits many milestones, such as being the first cosmetic company to open in China selling Moisture Cream, and collects many awards at fairs and conventions. Avon enlisted many manufactures for their product lines including the Fostoria Crystal Co. (now closed) and other glass, pottery and porcelain manufacturers. Today, Avon Products, Inc. remain the world's largest direct seller of cosmetics in over 100 countries with over 4 million Representatives, 46,000 employees. www.glassmenagerie.com/avon_collectibles.html
This vintage Avon collectible beer stein measures 7.5" to the lip of the beer stein, 8.25" tall to the top of the flat stein lid, weighs 2 pounds, 7.5 ounces and measures 4" diameter at the base tapering up to 3.5" diameter at the lip. No chips, cracks or crazing noted. A tiny dark and rough spot is noted along the edge of the electroplated gold lid, but this seems to have been there since manufacturing.
Marked on the base "THE GOLD RUSH STEIN, Handcrafted in Brazil exclusively Avon Products, Inc., Distr. (distributed) 1987" followed by a circle with "SOURCE OF FINE COLLECTIBLES Avon 1987" and individually numbered with 180945.
A1765 - 1987 AVON Collectible Stoneware Beer Stein GOLD RUSH DISCONTINUED!
$45.00
