Description:

Al Capone’s Lenox China Coffee Cup From His Estate, With Provenance From Granddaughter Barbara Mae Capone

An elegant coffee cup personally owned and used by notorious Prohibition-era mobster Al Capone (1899-1947) and his wife Mae Capone (1897-1986). The Lenox China "Wedding Band" pattern coffee cup has a classic ivory ground with an ornate scroll patterned gold rim, gilt handle and foot. Bearing the "Lenox" mark and the retailer's name, "Marshall Field / & Company / Chicago" on the underside. Expected light surface wear, else near fine. 2.25" high, 4" in diameter. Provenance: From "A Century of Notoriety: The Estate of Al Capone" Witherell's Auction, October 8, 2021; Al Capone's granddaughters; Albert Francis "Sonny" Capone; Al and Mae Capone. Accompanied by a photocopy of the catalog description originally signed by Al Capone's granddaughter, Barbara Mae Capone.

One of Capone's granddaughters, Diane Patricia Capone, described her "Papa" Al Capone as "kindly." “He was a very devoted family man, very committed to his family," Diane Capone told a reporter from the "San Francisco Chronicle." "Everything about his personal life speaks of family, home, entertaining. He was always very social and it shows...There’s china and furniture and crystal and all kinds of things that made up his personal life.”

As to be expected from an Italian mob figure of Capone’s stature, a lot of his life revolved around entertaining his family, friends, business associates, and fellow mobsters with food and drink. While the planning of many criminal events likely occurred around his opulent dinner table, many would be surprised that during the Great Depression, Capone opened a soup kitchen at 935 South State Street in Chicago touting “Free Soup, Coffee & Doughnuts for the Unemployed," that served more than 2,000 people a day.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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November 2, 2022 11:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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