Attractive circa 1888 baseball occupational shaving mug bearing featuring a crossed-bats-and-ball illustration on one side. During the late 1800s, most gentlemen of means had their whiskers shaved regularly by the local barber. Because there were serious issues regarding hygiene at the time, many of the regular customers chose to supply their own shaving mugs, which were kept at the shop. Given the number of mugs routinely housed at the shop, patrons began the practice of decorating their mugs with symbols of their profession and/or name, so they could be easily identified. Today, nineteenth-century occupational shaving mugs are highly collectible, with baseball examples among the most highly prized.

The offered example, which displays a gold-colored accent ring along the top and bottom, displays the name of a ballplayer by the name of "Wm F. Kelly" directly above the baseball design. The porcelain mug bears a green hallmark on the underside reading "GFH/GDM." (GDF denotes the manufacturer, Charles Field Haviland," while GDM denotes the decorator, Gerard Dufraisseix & Morel.) According to the Haviland website, this mark dates to the period 1882 to 1891. The mug displays an upside down "Y" shaped crack running from top to bottom on the left side of the mug, as well as general light wear commensurate with its age and former use. Height: 3.5 inches. Base diameter: 3.25 inches.

Estimated domestic USA shipping cost only. Does not include handling or insurance: 21.09 Please feel free to contact us for a more accurate shipping cost.