Back around the turn of the 20th century, food manufacturers were eager to promote their growing number of branded products, both to consumers and retailers, and how safe and healthful they were. One way to do that was at a Pure Food Exposition. Usually held in large urban hall like an armory or exhibition hall, thousands of retail buyers and consumers would gather in a circus-like atmosphere, with carney barkers and small rides but no animals (it was food) to peruse and taste the newest flavors and concoctions. Often, such exhibitions were held in the winter months when regular circuses were quartered. Unregulated “Pure” food was a big deal in those days. The Federal Pure Food and Drug Act wasn’t passed until 1906, and until then who knew what you were getting in a can or box of food?

Siegel-Cooper was a “discount” department store founded in Chicago in 1887 and located at State and Van Buren streets, not far the former Marshall Field store. It was one of a half-dozen department stores located in what was called the State Street shopping district in the heart of the Loop. In 1896, the company opened a second store in Manhattan in an area known as the Ladies’ Mile Shopping District, at 616 Sixth Ave., between West 18th and 19th streets. The stores were highly successful at the time, and a third store was operated briefly in Boston. Their slogan was “Everything Under the Sun.” But changing tastes and the Depression led to the New York store’s closure in 1915 and the Chicago store’s demise in 1932, replaced by a new flagship store for Chicago’s Sears, Roebuck and Co.

This is a glass souvenir from a 1903 Pure Food Exposition. Records indicate the biggest expo that year was held in the Detroit Armory in downtown Detroit (they moved around) so we’ll go with that. It is approximately 3 ¾ inches tall by 2 ¾ inches in diameter (9.5 x 7 cm), in excellent condition with only maker marks on the bottom rim. No symbol or other indication of the manufacturer but it is thick everyday glass, maybe Owens-Illinois? The lettering is acid etched into the surface with great Art Nouveau accents that reflect the period. The glass has one tiny scratch to the left of the flowery bit before “Souvenir,” but it doesn’t show in the picture.

How many more of these are there around in this kind of condition? A superb addition to a fruit jar, food or dairy bottle collection. What about a department store collector, or the pursuer of antique Chicago? A period general or country store? Shipped free in the US. Check out our other antique collectibles at www.ebay.com/str/agitpropshoppe

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