Tobacco Humidor in the Shape of a Kiln Made on Staten Island in New York City

While working on a research project about the eighteenth and nineteenth century domestic household pottery on Staten Island in New York City, I came across this fascinating terra cotta tobacco humidor in the shape of a kiln from the collection of the Staten Island Historical Society. The humidor is marked near the base, "ATLANTIC TERRA COTTA CO," and it may have been designed as a presentation piece or for promotional purposes, such as marketing to architects.

Founded in the late-1890s by De Forest Grant, William D. Frerichs, S.S. Whitehurst and Charles U. Thrall, the Atlantic Terra Cotta Company became one of the largest terra cotta manufacturers in the United States, largely as a result of company mergers. The first merger occurred in 1906-07 when the Perth Amboy, New Jersey Terra Cotta Company, the Excelsior Terra Cotta Company, and the Standard Terra Cotta Company merged with the Staten Island firm under the Atlantic Terra Cotta Company name. The company's production was also split between its location at 101 Ellis Street on Staten Island and the main factory and kilns that were located about four miles south in Perth Amboy.

According to the historical society, "For over three decades, the Atlantic Terra Cotta Company designed and manufactured architectural fabric and ornament, sculpture, and garden pottery that was installed and used in almost every major American city as well as abroad. Founded in 1897, the company opened its factory in Tottenville, Staten Island, in 1898 and expanded rapidly. By 1906, the Tottenville plant was employing 450 to 500 men and was producing the fabric and ornament for such prestigious projects as the first New York City subway stations, the upper stories of the Flatiron Building, and the Plaza Hotel."

I suspect that much of the beautiful ornamental terra cotta found throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn and New York City's other boroughs, as well as possibly even Hartford, Connecticut may have originated at the Atlantic Terra Cotta Company. For instance, I posted a picture of a wonderful building covered in terra cotta design that I saw last spring while visiting Hartford. Interestingly, by 1910, about seventy percent of New York City's high-rise buildings were built utilizing some type of terra cotta, some of which was in classic ancient designs.

The Atlantic Terra Cotta Company ceased production on Staten Island in 1930, but the building's 135 foot smokestack remained a landmark site on Staten Island until it was torn down in 1988.

Tobacco Humidor in the Shape of a Kiln

 Late-19th or Early-20th Century Terra Cotta Tobacco Humidor

Made at the Atlantic Terra Cotta Company on Staten Island or Perth Amboy, NJ

Circa 1898-1930

Stands 8 1/4" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Staten Island Historical Society

View of the Mark, "ATLANTIC TERRA COTTA CO."

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Photo Courtesy: Staten Island Historical Society

Original Sign from the Atlantic Terra Cotta Company

Measures H 27.5" x W 19.5" x D 5.5"

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Photo Courtesy: Guernsey's New York

The Atlantic Terra Cotta Company at 101 Ellis Street on Staten Island

Circa 1898-1930

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Photo Courtesy: Staten Island Historical Society

Employees of the Atlantic Terra Cotta Company on Staten Island
Circa 1920

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Photo Courtesy: Staten Island Historical Society

The Site of the Atlantic Terra Cotta Company Today at 101 Ellis Street on Staten Island
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Photo Courtesy: AbandonedNYC

Terra Cotta in Hartford, Connecticut

Building Decorated with Ornamental Terra Cotta in Hartford, CT

Possibly Made at the Atlantic Terra Cotta Company or Another Northeastern Manufacturer

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