Winkle Terra Cotta Co. glazed mascaron

Object/Artifact

National Building Arts Center

Front of Winkle Terra Cotta Co. glazed mascaron

Front view of a red and gold glazed ornamental mascaron, depicting a grinning female face, with flowing gold, curly hair and bared, shiny teeth

Name/Title

Winkle Terra Cotta Co. glazed mascaron

Description

A deep red and gold glazed ornamental mascaron (an architectural ornamental face/head without shoulders or a neck) depicting a grinning female face, with flowing gold, curly hair and bared, shiny teeth. The mascaron sits on a raised base stamped with the Winkle Terra Cotta Co.

Use

Promotional object, used for the purpose of advertising the Winkle Terra Cotta Co., to deliver samples of their work to potential customers/clients, or to represent products they sold. This was likely a salesman's sample, and the glazed and unglazed mascarons might have been used to show the options for customers looking to order ornamental terra cotta.

Collection

Promotional object displays

Made/Created

Manufacturer

The Winkle Terra Cotta Co.

Time Period

19th Century, 20th Century

Place

City

St. Louis

State/Province

Missouri

Country

United States of America

Continent

North America

Notes

The company began as the Joseph Winkle Terra Cotta works, but in 1889, the business was incorporated under the title of The Winkle Terra Cotta Co. Thus, the mascaron is likely from after 1889.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Makers Mark

Location

Back of mascaron

Transcription

"The Winkle Terra Cotta Co., St. Louis, MO"

Language

English

Material/Technique

Stamped

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Sculpture

Nomenclature Class

Art

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

LOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials

Terra-cotta

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Measurements are approximate, as the object does not have even planes.

Height

11.8 cm

Width

12.5 cm

Depth

2.5 cm

Parts

Count

Parts

Mascaron

Material

terra cotta

Color

Gold, Red

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Condition Type

Chip / Chipping, Flaking, Dust / Particulate Matter

Date Examined

Jul 29, 2026

Examined By

Elena Marshall

Cleanliness

There is slight dirt or dust accumulation in the crevices of the mascaron.

Surface

Surface is in great condition, but some of the gold finish and the shiny glaze has chipped or flaked off in some areas.

Research Notes

Research Type

Researcher

Person

Elena Marshall

Date

Jul 29, 2026

Web Links and URLs

Article taken from a 1904 edition of the journal "Brick" about the Winkle Terra Cotta Co.

Notes

(See Made/Created)

Create Date

July 29, 2026

Update Date

July 29, 2026