Anyone familiar with American majolica is aware of the Catalogue of Majolica printed in 1884 for the Etruscan Works display at the New Orleans World’s Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition. But what is the story behind the Exposition and why did the Griffen brothers and David Smith choose to enter their work in this place so far from the Phoenix Pottery?
The answer to the latter part of that question is quite simple. The new company was anxious to increase awareness of their products and saw the effects promotion had at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial. It was through this catalog that Griffen, Smith & Company found the national distribution that made the company's name, and for a brief while, its fortune. Here is the story behind the Exhibition itself.
In 1881 an exhibition was planned to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the cotton export trade from the United States which started in 1784. Originally just an agricultural cotton exhibition, by 1883 the display evolved into a full international world’s fair exhibition. Planned by owner of the New Orleans Times Democrat Newspaper, and former state treasurer Edward A. Burke, the site of a former plantation as well as surrounding undeveloped land was chosen for the fair. With a budget of $2,700,000 allocated by congress, the state of Louisiana, investors and local governments, buildings were constructed to hold displays from 44 participating states and territories as well as several foreign countries. An opening date of November 1884 was set but construction delays forced the opening to December. At opening only part of the exhibits had been completed.
The unofficial opening on December 1 was followed by an official opening on December 16 initiated by President Chester A. Arthur by telegraph from the White House who pressed a button to begin the machinery at the fair.
WASHINGTON, D. C., December 16th, 1884.–“In the name of the people of the republic I congratulate the citizens of the Southwest on their advancing prosperity , as manifested by the great International Exposition now about to open. …With my best wishes for the fulfillment of all its great purposes, I now declare that the World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition is open.” —C. A. ARTHUR.
From the beginning the Exposition was plagued with problems: construction delays and overruns; corruption; poor attendance and bad weather.
Pennsylvania sent the Liberty Bell as a good will gesture to help aid in the healing of the North and South after the Civil War. For the first time ever in the South a special exhibition was created called "The Colored People's Department" showing the contributions of African Americans to American science and culture. In addition there was a special Women's Exhibition. Modern advances in technology, education, art and livestock all touted the most up to date inventions available.
Official guides, maps and souvenirs were sold at the fair as well as a catalog with a complete description of every display shown and every speech given.
From an official description of the fair:
“No pen can describe the grand scene within the mighty [main] building. Each State and Territory had brought hither that which was beautiful and attractive in grains, grasses, minerals , and the work of the school, the factory and the farm. Looking down the broad aisles, or across the vistas of space, it was one continuous display of natural resources adorned by the skillful hands of decorators and made imposing by many grand center- pieces , while grain and grasses were woven into mighty pyramids or beautiful statues. Pagodas innumerable and tasteful in design, monuments of solid rock, huge piles of phosphates and ore and signs in almost countless number met the eye no matter whither turned. The great State banners denoted where each commonwealth was to be found, and were models of beauty in themselves .”
The Pennsylvania display which included the Liberty Bell as well as the three piece garniture set designed by Griffen, Smith & Company also included mining and agricultural products from the state.
The original closing date of May 31, 1885 fell on a Sunday, forcing the closing of the Exposition to Monday, June 1, 1885. To try and recoup losses several months later, the fair reopened under new management under the name of the North, South and Central American Exposition. New exhibits were brought in to boost attendance but it was all to no avail. After four months the new Exposition also closed in April 1886.
The fair closed with a financial loss of $470,000 to investors. The main building, Horticultural Hall, which was retained as the only permanent structure from the fair, began to deteriorate as early as the 1890s and was eventually destroyed by a hurricane in 1915. Today, the site of the fair now renamed Audubon Park shows few signs of the grand exposition that was held there 140 years ago. It wouldn't be until 1984 that another World’s Fair would be held in the city. Unfortunately that one too ended in bankruptcy for the backers.
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