Manufacturer: Syracuse China
User: Skull and Bones
Date of examples: early 1900's
Notes: From Wikipedia: "Skull and Bones (also known as The Order, Order 322 or The Brotherhood of Death) is an undergraduate senior secret student society at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. The oldest senior-class society at the university, Skull and Bones has become a cultural institution known for its powerful alumni and conspiracy theories.
"Skull and Bones was founded in 1832 after a dispute among Yale debating societies … over that season's Phi Beta Kappa awards. William Huntington Russell and Alphonso Taft co-founded "The Order of the Skull and Bones.
"The society's badge is gold and consists of a skull that is supported by crossed bones, with the number 322 on the lower jaw. The number "322" appears in Skull and Bones' insignia and is widely reported to be significant as the year of Greek orator Demosthenes' death.
"The Skull and Bones Hall, located at 64 High St. in New Haven, Connecticut, is otherwise known as the 'Tomb.' The building was built in three phases: the first wing was built in 1856, the second wing in 1903, and Davis-designed Neo-Gothic towers were added to the rear garden in 1912."
Plate 1
White body plate with black line drawings of numerous skeletons dancing and playing musical instruments around the rim, bleeding over the verge and into the well. In the center of the well is a red line drawing of a skull and crossbones with a crown on the skull. Surrounding this is a circular drawing of an ouroboros (a snake eating its tail) with the Latin words – "Bono Nil Melius – Cicero" in the bottom of the circle.
Bono Nil Melius – Good, nothing better
Plate 2
White body plate with a coin gold stripe around the outer rim and black line drawings of numerous skeletons dancing and playing musical instruments around the rim, bleeding over the verge and into the well. In the center of the well is a black line drawing of a skull and crossbones with a crown on the skull. Surrounding this is a circular drawing of an ouroboros (a snake eating its tail) with the Latin words – "Bono Nil Melius – Cicero" in the bottom of the circle. Circling the snake are two phrases. Around the top "Bonum Habetote Animun – Sallust" and around the bottom "Non Minima Pars Est Euditionis Bonos Nosse – Cicero."
Bonum Habetote Animum – Have a good mind
Bono Nil Melius – Good, nothing better
Non Minima Pars Est Euditionis Bonos Nosse – It is not the least part of education to know good people
Plates 3
White body plate with a coin gold stripe around the outer rim which is slightly scalloped. Around the rim are numerous line drawings of alternating red and black skeletons dancing and playing musical instruments bleeding over the verge and into the well. In the center of the well is a line drawing of three black skeletons holding hands and dancing in a circle. Over the top of the drawing are the words "We're Having A Calliathump." Under the skeletons are the black block letters "S.B.T.!" and under these letters is the Latin saying "Est Hodie In Bonis – Cicero."
Calliathump: A noisy celebration or parade
Est Hodie In Bonis – Today is good
Plate 4
White body plate with a coin gold stripe around the outer rim. Around the rim are numerous line drawings of black skeletons dancing and playing musical instruments bleeding over the verge and into the well. In the center of the well is a line drawing of three black skeletons holding hands and dancing in a circle. Over the top of the drawing are the words "We're Having A Calliathump." Under the skeletons are the black block letters "S.B.T.!" and under these letters is the Latin saying "Est Hodie In Bonis – Cicero."
Calliathump: A noisy celebration or parade
Est Hodie In Bonis – Today is good
Source:
Wikipedia – history of society and photo of the Tomb
Contributors:
Roland Burritt: ID and plate 1 photos
Ed Phillips: author