Gig 'Em!

Previously on this blog we featured a rare 1937 Wedgwood commemorative plate featuring one of the buildings at the University of Texas at Austin campus. Now, from our trove, we present this vintage Wedgwood plate honoring UT's arch rival, the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, better known as A&M. Appropriately colored maroon and white, the plate features the Academic Building, completed in 1912.

This plate was one of a 12-piece set of dinnerware depicting various landmarks of the A&M campus. Pinky L. Downs, a member of the A&M Board of Regents from 1923 to 1933, is credited with the idea of commissioning the plates (he is also said to have introduced the Aggie "Gig’em" hand sign). In 1935, the university held a contest between its landscape arts and architectural majors for the plates' design and the winner, Jack F. Doyle, was awarded $10 and a complete set of the original 12 Wedgwood plates. Two additional plates, featuring the All Faiths Chapel and the Memorial Student Center, were added in the 1950s.

The plate is stamped on the back with Wedgwood's mark and the mark of the importer. Most plates in this series also included a stamp on the back of an Aggie cadet standing at attention, but some, such as this one, are mysteriously missing this mark. 

The design around the rim depicts six shields, each representing one of the flags that flew over Texas, as well as prickly pear cactus, and, somewhat ironically,  longhorns.

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!