Late 19th Century Tavern Corner Sign Beverwyck Brewing King Gambrinus Albany NY

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Late 19th Century Tavern Corner Sign Beverwyck Brewing King Gambrinus Albany NY

About the Item

A late 19th century tin corner advertising sign for the Beverwyck Brewing Company in Albany, N.Y., featuring Gambrinus as the central image for the sign. Gambrinus is a legendary European culture hero celebrated as an icon of beer, brewing, joviality, and joie de vivre. Typically representations depict him as a rotund, bearded duke or king, holding a tankard or mug, and often with a keg nearby as in this sign. Beverwyck Brewing Company was formed in 1878 and was located in Albany, New York throughout its existence. The brewery produced beer until the onset of prohibition in 1920. During Prohibition it had a license to produce non-alcoholic drinks and as a result it was one of three local breweries to survive the prohibition era. With the end of Prohibition in 1933 Beverwyck Brewing restarted the production of products containing alcohol. They produced India Ale and Porter through 1944 and Ale, Bock, Beer and Cream Ale were produced through 1950. In 1950 the firm was acquired by Schaefer Brewing for whom they produced products until closure in 1972. The sign measures 27 3/8 inches tall, 15 7/8 inches across and 8 inches deep. Signs like this are considered to date to circa 1895. The management team listed upon the end of the hogshead controlled the brewery through the 1880's and 1890's. The 1896 Albany City Directory lists these men as the management team with the addition of a co-manager suggesting this sign is somewhat older. Nolan was a well regarded figure (nicknamed "Lucky") and served multiple terms as Mayor of Albany and in Congress. This item has modest flaws but in excellent condition considering age and rarity. Flaws include: minor wrinkling along the top edge including folds that have been bent back into shape resulting in loss on the edges and at creases. Wear of false gilded lettering particularly in the words Beverwyck at the top. Between the head of the crowned Gambrinus and the abbreviated Co. are three spots red paint of unknown age and type. There is a relatively modern through the paint scratch that runs through the “K” in trade mark. There is an area of rust and exfoliating gold in Gambrinus's right lower leg. There is a second through the paint scratch to the extreme right of the seated Gambrinus's left leg. There's rust and wear to the lettering in “Lager Beer”at the base as shown. There's also rust along the lower edge and a spot of paint loss below the comma separating Albany, New York. Additional wire nails with modest period paint loss around a few nail heads at the edges hold the sign to the wooden frame. The back of the frame appears to be original and intact. There's a drying crack at the top as shown. It appears that it now long dead puppy dog chewed on one of the corners of the wooden frame at some distant point in the past.

Dimensions:
Height: 27.38 in (69.55 cm)Width: 15.88 in (40.34 cm)Depth: 8 in (20.32 cm)
Style:
Other (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Metal
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
Late 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1895
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Good condition for age and use. Please see description for full narrative.
Seller Location:
Portland, OR
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU3684113545372