Antique Hotelware Platter - St Anthony Hotel - Texas Restaurant Ware circa 1909

{HISTORY}

Like so many vintage restaurantware and hotelware serving pieces, this vintage platter tells three stories in one - the history of the maker (Lamberton Works), the history of the distributor (Albert Pick & Company), and the history of the esteemed establishment for which it was made (St. Anthony Hotel). 

The oldest story of the three starts with the distributor, Albert Pick, an Austrian immigrant, who opened up a dish shop in Chicago in 1857. What started as a simple dream and a passionate love for dishes quickly evolved into one of the largest and most comprehensive hospitality industry suppliers in the country. As it turned out, Albert had a knack not only for selling high-quality dishes but also for listening. Attentive, resourceful, and deeply intuitive, Albert understood the needs and stresses of his clients and set out to alleviate and problem-solve all the worries that befell them. In addition to selling all types of dishware, Albert Pick &  Company became a go-to resource for all areas of the hospitality industry. Offering a diverse catalog of interior design collections ranging from curtains to tableware, dining furniture to kitchen stoves, the company even established a problem-solving department for hospitality industry woes, provided funding opportunities for new ventures and investments, and eventually got involved in buying and selling real estate to budding industry entrepreneurs.

Like Albert Pick, Lamberton Works, based in Trenton, New Jersey, was also focused on providing the best level of service they could.  Founded in 1869 by the Maddock family, who immigrated from England in the 1840s, Maddock's Lamberton Works created high-quality dishes that boasted beautiful designs and expert craftsmanship. Heavy, durable and well-constructed, Lamberton serving pieces were made for both domestic and commercial use but quickly became a brand favorite, particularly in the hospitality industry. Lauded for both their form and function, Lamberton dishes could withstand constant use in the hustle bustle environments of busy hotels and restaurants while still retaining a fresh, elegant appearance. That was just the sort of combination that would attract the discerning eye of Albert Pick and Company, especially when it came time to outfit their new client, The St. Anthony Hotel in San Antonio, Texas. 

First opened in 1909, St. Anthony, located in downtown San Antonio, Texas, was the creation of two wealthy cattlemen who hoped to grow San Antonio's hospitality and business industries by appealing to the elite traveler. The height of luxury hotels in the early 20th century, the St. Anthony offered 210 elegantly appointed guest rooms, private baths, electrically operated doors and light switches, water fountain courtyards in the lounge areas, personal telephone connections at each table in the main restaurant, a plethora of modern amenities, and numerous dining options including a cafe, a bar, and several dining rooms. Both a marvel of engineering and beauty, it was instantly popular, both well-received in the community and among the hotel industry, where it was often referred to as the Waldorf-Astoria of the South. Like any hotel that has operated over the course of a century, the St. Anthony had some ups and downs and changed ownership multiple times, but other than a brief time during the Great Depression, it never lost its luxury feel nor its aim to elevate the hospitality industry to impeccable standards.  

Host to movie stars, celebrities, politicians, and affluent travelers across the 1900s, the hotel eventually grew and expanded to accommodate 600 guest rooms, three annexes, and multiple dining spots, including a rooftop restaurant, several cafes, and multiple dining rooms. This medium-sized platter, feautring the hotel's crest and a striped rim,  was made in 1908 or shortly thereafter and would have been part of the first wave of excitement in this hotel's long history of exhilarating experiences. Still operating today, St Anthony remains a popular tourism spot for visitors to the the downtown San Antonio area and the Alamo. 

Newspaper article courtesy of the San Antonio Light, Nov 22, 1908. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• Colors include terracotta, peach, black, and bright white
• Medium size 
• Stamped on back with maker’s mark and distributor's name
• Hard-to-find hotelware

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition, this platter contains no chips or cracks. There is some light scuffing in the clay on the back near the backstamp - most likely something that occurred during the manufacturing process, and a series of 12 black pencil-point-sized dots under the rim on the back as well. Please see photos. 

{SIZE}

Measures 11.5" inches (length) x 8" inches (width) and weighs 1.12 lbs