2006.61.26

Vertical standing box of brown wood, with three vertical clear glass panels, inside of which is suspended the cloth wrapped (red, white and blue) champagne bottle broken by Mary Chinn on the S.S. John E. Wilkie when she christened it at Shipyard Number Two in Richmond, California, July 8, 1943. At the center front of the base is a plaque "S.S. John E. Wilkie, July 8, 1943."

When Mrs. Mary Lew Chinn christened the S.S. John E. Wilkie on July 8, 1943, this is the bottle of champagne that she smashed on the sfront of the ship. (See 2006.61.7 and 2006.61.8) It was encased in a red, white and blue bag, which would keep the glass bottle from flying (with the champagne) all over those in attendance. Over the years Mr. and Mrs. Chinn used the bottle, in its trophy case, as a family decoration in her garden. Exposure to the California sun diminished the intensity of the red and blue stripes in the cloth surrounding the bottle.

Used: Mrs. Mary Lew Chinn | Chinese American | The Permanente Metals Corporation | Shipyard Number Two | Richmond | Christening | Launching | S.S. John E. Wilkie