Located at 127 Royal Street, the Gem was reportedly opened in 1851 by John Daniels and Alfred Arnold Pray. It became a popular gathering place for New Orleans society and is said to have been the birthplace of the Mistick Krewe of Comus, as well as the Pickwick Club. Over the years, the Gem was described variously as a saloon, oyster house, and restaurant. Exactly when it closed is unclear.
Shown here is one surviving artifact from the Gem. This much-worn platter has only barely survived, but I am pleased to have it in the collection. Made by Union Porcelain Works, an early American producer of commercial chinaware, it likely dates from the last quarter of the nineteenth century. I can only hope that better-preserved examples remain in other collections.
Also shown is a Gem menu. Because of its unusually fine condition, and because similar examples occasionally turn up, I cannot say with certainty that it is original; it may be a later reproduction.
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