Object ID
2011.7.169
Object Name
Bowl
Object Collection
Alex's Candy Shop (is part of)
Date Created
1920 – 1940
Material
Ceramic
Object Entities
Object Description
This medium sized, white ceramic bowl is plain white except for three green lines on the outer side of the bowl. Two of them are directly beneath the lip of the bowl and wrap around the entire thing. The top line is thicker than the lower one, the lower one being about the width of a line drawn by a pen or pencil. The third line is lower on the bowl, at the point where it curves toward the base. This decoration is the same width as the lower one in the upper grouping. Along this line there is a spot that protrudes slightly from the bowl, but is still underneath the finish so it is probably just a result of the natural material. The entire bowl is completely smooth and has a glass like sheen which makes it shiny. On the lip of the very bottom it is darker and more worn due to use. On the very base of the bowl is printed the company's name who makes it. Inside of a ribbon design is the word "Sterling" and below the ribbon says "Vitrified China" in a cursive font. Direcltly below those words is the location of "East Liverpool, Ohio U.S.A" in a standard font.

The interior of the bowl is a plain white, but has a few stains on it from age and storage. Most of the stains are on the top lip. The spots ont he interior are a light brown color and it looks like one near the top might have been paint because it is slightly raised and a pinker color.
Origin
Paulina Franks' grandfather, John Rassogianis, came to Chicago in the 1890s. He began his life in the new city by peddling fruits and later, with the help of his sons Alex and George, would open a candy store. In the 1920s Paulina Franks' father Constantine became a part of the family business and the store was able to prosper. When the second business closed Paulina Rassogianis chose to hold as many of the candy store's items as possible and, later, donate them to the National Hellenic Museum.

The Rassogianis family began their candy business in Chicago proper, working out of their own shop named "St. Louis Ice Cream Parlor." Eventually, the shop was closed and the Rassogianis' chose to continue their candy store venture in Berwyn, Illinois. The new shop they chose to open was named Alex's Sweet Shop.

Paulina Franks' father was a key contributor to the success of the Rassogianis candy stores. While Constantine Rassogianis was a noteworthy entrepeneur, he also had many other accomplishments. Among these was his four years of involvment in the Greek national military during World War I wherein he obtained the rank of sergeant. Also, he was a published author and poet, an experienced mandolin player, a church officer and had extensive knowledge of psalti.

The town of Liverpool, Ohio, where this bowl came from, has been a pottery based town since 1839 when James Bennett came to the U.S. from England and determined the local clay and water supply would be good for making pottery. Since then the industry has only grown, yet it has gone through some changes. In 1923 new distribution techniques came into play. In addition to the river closeby and the railroad, catalogs started being produced to increase awareness in the community. During the 1930's, however, the industry faced hardship because of the great depression and many pottery plants had to be closed or merge with other companies.

Sterling Vitrified China, the company that made this bowl, was started in 1917 and is still in business today. In 1954 they absorbed Scammell China Company and still continue to make china. This particular bowl was not made for any specific person or purpose, it was merely mass produced and was available to purchase through many different facets. The reason they focus on vitrified china is due to its durability which their customers appreciate.Through vitrification these dishes are extremely difficult to chip or break because it has been fired twice, guaranteeing that no liquid is able to penetrate the dish, not only making them practical and durable, but also long lasting. This bowl was made through this process which is why the company stamped it on the bottom, so that people would know what company made it and what type of material it was.
Rights and Reproduction
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Citation
Bowl, 1920 – 1940, Alex's Candy Shop, National Hellenic Museum, https://collections.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/Detail/objects/8668. Accessed 04/19/24.