Dewey Water Set

Object NameFive Tumblers

Manufacturer Beatty-Brady Glass Company (American (Steubenville, OH; Dunkirk, IN), 1850 - 1891)

Designer John Henry Croskey

Date1898

MediumNon-flint clear pressed glass

DimensionsEach: 4 × 2 5/8 × 2 5/8 in. (10.2 × 6.7 × 6.7 cm)

ClassificationsDecorative Arts, Glass

Credit LineGift of Cherry Sparks, past Iowa State President and past International Quester President. In the Iowa Quester Glass Collection, Brunnier Art Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

Object numberUM2015.171a-e

Status

On view

Collections

CultureAmerican

Label TextImagery of Admiral George Dewey became prominent in American decorative arts following his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898 during the Spanish-American War. Celebrated as a national hero, Dewey’s likeness appeared on a wide variety of objects, including commemorative ceramics, medals, posters, household items, and souvenirs, during this time often produced quickly to capitalize on public enthusiasm. These decorative objects typically depict him in uniform or alongside naval imagery, emphasizing themes of military strength, patriotism, and American expansionism. Through such everyday objects, Dewey’s image was transformed into a symbol of U.S. naval power and imperial ambition at the turn of the twentieth century, reflecting how decorative arts helped shape and spread popular political narratives.

Published ReferencesReferences: American Pressed Glass and Figural Bottles by Albert Christian Revi, 1964.

Locations