Children's Mug

Details

Descriptive Terms

mugs
earthenware
transfer printing
Mug

Label

Charles Barrett III lost his hearing as a child and was one of the first students at the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1817 by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, Dr. Mason Cogswell, and Laurent Clerc, the school was open to students of all ages, including famed deaf portraitist John Brewster Jr. In the early years of the school, American Sign Language was developed and codified, so it is likely that Charles Barrett was part of the student cohort who participated in developing the language. This mug is part of the Barrett family collection. A popular style of children's educational tableware in the early-to-mid 1800s, it depicts the British Sign Language alphabet which is very different than American Sign Language.

Associated Building

Used at Barrett House (New Ipswich, N.H.),

Maker

Unknown

Dimensions

2 5/8 x 3 5/8 (HxW) (inches)

Credit Line

Gift of Caroline Barr Wade

Accession Number

1948.169

Reference Notes

Co-publisher: Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities.

Places

County of Staffordshire (England, United Kingdom) [county]