Description:
Shaving mugs or cups were widely manufactured. In form they resembled a common cylindrical mug with, however, a small soap pocket either within the mug or protruding from one side. Thrown, cylindrical red earthenware container, vessel has flat circular base, straight sides, circular mouth, inserted into the mouth of the mug are two pieces of clay, one bisects the mouth horizontally and the other vertically, the horizontal flat piece of clay creates a shelf for a brush, attached ribbed strap handle attached to the side of the mug, a horizontal band is incised onto the middle of the mug’s exterior, covered all over in a lustrous, dark brown lead glaze, inscribed in red paint on bottom of pot, “128” Formerly part of the Burton N. Gates Collection. Original Gates notecard for this object reads, "Shaving mug. Red clay. Dark? glaze/ Base 4 in.: hieght 5 in./ Col. Stevens, Fitchburg."

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https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2014.4.151

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