GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC (G.A.R.) Civil War Veteran CERAMIC CANTEEN Circa Late 1800s

Large antique Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) CERAMIC PRESENTATION CANTEEN DECANTER, circa late 1800s.  The G.A.R. was a fraternity organization whose members had served as Union soldiers during the Civil War. 

The white ceramic PRESENTATION DECANTER is shaped like a CANTEEN and decorated with hand painted gilt accents and lettering.  Embossed and hand painted in the center of the canteen is the famous G.A.R. membership medal, featuring a gold gilt eagle grasping a sword with crossed cannons perched above a red, white and blue American flag.  Below the flag is a large gold gilt star. Above the medal is the G.A.R. motto in script, "We have drank from the same canteen."

The round decanter is meant to be hung. It is about 8” in diameter without the neck.  Including the neck its 9 ½” high and 10 ½” high with the metal stopper. The sling guides are painted gold and the stopper is original to the piece.

It is in very good condition other than some crazing, discoloration and worn gold gilt, all expected considering the age.  There is also a ½” wide chip on the back—just below the rim.  The piece is not dated but most likely is from the late 1800s.

Canteens like this were presented to delegates at national encampments as proof of their attendance and were sometimes sold by vendors at the encampments.  This canteen was large enough to hold a reasonable amount of liquid as hard drinking was common at the encampments as war stories were swapped and shared.

A signature will be required upon delivery.

About the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.)

Founded in Springfield, Illinois by Benjamin Stevenson on April 6, 1866, the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) filled the need as Union soldiers returned home, many times unemployed, depressed and searching for what could be next in their lives.  The G.A.R. brought these men together and recognized what they had done for the northern states, each other and our country.  

The Grand Army called its  national and state meetings “encampments,” because its members often literally camped out in tents on local open areas. National encampments were held in various cities across the country for 83 years, from 1866 to 1949.  In its peak in 1890, the G.A.R. had more than 490,000 members.

The G.A.R. is credited for working to get quality pensions for all veterans of the Civil War and for the establishment of Memorial Day.