Souvenir Plate

PeriodCirca 1910

Place MadeProbably United States

MediumOpaque white glass, silk ribbon

Dimensions1 × 6 in. (2.5 × 15.2 cm)

ClassificationsGlass

Credit LineMuseum Collection

Object number2024.514

DescriptionA decorative souvenir plate of molded opaque white glass, with a pierced dagged-edge rim colored a bright turquoise blue and large square slots around the inner edge of the rim, threaded through with a loosely woven silk ribbon in ombre shades of army green, tied in a bow at the top of the plate. The center of the plate includes a circular scene of Cooper Bridge in Red Bank. Below the central image is the inscription "Cooper Bridge, Red Bank, N.J."
Curatorial RemarksSouvenirs focused on the Jersey Shore, including many sites in Monmouth County, were popular purchases for those visiting the area. Although not directly on the sandy shores of Monmouth's beaches, Red Bank was a destination site for shore visitors. Turn-of-the-century souvenirs are particularly charming and often featured scenes taken from postcard images. This plate, although made for the summer shore trade, is of high quality and features stand-out design elements, including bright, clear colors and a silk ribbon. Plates, cups, mugs, miniature vases, and many other three-dimensional items would have been displayed in parlors on shelves and in bookcases. The Association has a second similar plate, apparently as part of a series, depicting Broad Street in Red Bank, in a slightly different colorway (accession #2024.509).NotesThere has been a bridge across the Navesink in Red Bank as early as 1850, which seems to have been an entirely wood frame structure with stone piers. In 1878, the old bridge was at the end of its usefulness, and was replaced by an iron frame structure constructed and installed by the King Iron Bridge Company. In 1894, the iron bridge was deemed to low for river traffic. It was decided to build a higher new bridge directly above the old one. This time, the Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio, came in as successful bidders for the project, estimating a cost of $24,100. When completed, the project came in more than $500 under budget, and the new Cooper Bridge opened on December 19, 1894. The old planks and timbers were auctioned to local Monmouth residents the following month. By 1920, the bridge was in dangerous condition, one newspaper article detailing an incident where a heavy truck almost "fell through" the roadway. The age of automobiles had arrived, and older bridges designed and built for horses and wagons were obsolete. In 1925, the bridge was replaced, this time for approximately $400,000. The image in the center of the plate is most likely the 1894 bridge.

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