Matson Line glass bowl

Maker Matson Lines (American, founded 1882)

Date1932-1940

Object number00018191

NameBowl

MediumClear moulded glass, white enamel

DimensionsOverall: 58 x 89 x 89 mm, 0.116 kg Base approximately 5mm thick. With sides of bowl approximately 3mm thick. Base is 53mm wide with top widening to 89mm in diameter.

ClassificationsTableware and furnishings

Credit LineANMM Collection Purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds

Terms

DescriptionThis Matson Line glass bowl features the Matson Line logo. HistoryIn 1882 Norwegian Captain William Matson (1849-1947) formed the Matson Navigation Company in San Francisco. His first vessel, schooner EMMA CLAUDINA, undertook a cargo run to the Hawaiian Islands that same year. The company gradually expanded and as the tourism passenger trade with Hawaii increased Matson introduced its first passenger cargo ship, the LURLINE in 1908 and the SS WILHELMINA in 1910. By the late 1920s Matson Navigaton Company owned 32 freighters and passenger ships, and had taken over both The Oceanic Steamship Company and Oceanic & Oriental Navigation Company in 1926, running them as subsidiaries. In 1927 the new passenger liner MALOLO joined the fleet. Matson Navigation Company also took over the Los Angeles Steamship Company in 1931, and set about building a trio of liners - the MARIPOSA, MONTEREY and LURLINE which serviced the Australian and Hawaii passenger liner trade. These liners, along with the MALOLO became well known as the Matson Lines "white fleet". All four vessels were very popular in the trans-Pacific cruise route between Australia and America. During World War II all four of the white fleet were used as troop transports, but after the war only MATSONIA (formerly MALOLO) re-entered the passenger service to Hawaii. MATSONIA, MONTEREY and MARIPOSA were sold in the late 1940s. In the mid 1940s MONTEREY was repurchased and renamed MATSONIA, and in 1956 two new cargo lines were built for the South Pacific service, named MONTEREY and MARIPOSA. 1963 LURLINE was sold and by 1973 Matson due to a dwindling passenger trade, Matson had ended its passenger service.SignificanceThis glass bowl highlights the popularity of luxury ocean liners during the early 20th century.