Extremely rare pieces of stoneware breweriana umbrella stand from the St. Louis Sewer Pipe Company made for the Anheuser Busch Company. Eberhard Anheuser, who left Germany in 1843, and moved to St. Louis. Trained as a soap manufacturer, he eventually went on to own the largest soap and candle company in St. Louis. Although he had no brewing experience, he became part owner of the Bavarian Brewery, which had first opened its doors in 1852. By 1860, Anheuser had bought out the other investors and the brewery’s name was changed to E. Anheuser & Co. Through his business acquaintance Aldolphus Busch met Eberhard Anheuser, and soon Adolphus was introduced to Eberhard’s daughter, Lilly. In 1861, Adolphus Busch and Lilly Anheuser were married, and shortly after that, Adolphus went to work for his father-in-law. He later purchased half ownership in the brewery, becoming a partner. It is believed that four umbrella stands were commissioned by the Anheuser Busch company for their corporate office. The St. Louis Sewer Pipe Company was in business for only one year in 1873. The basis of the umbrella stand is from a piece of sewer tile. The reddish terra cotta clay is in cylindrical form standing 26 inches tall and 13 inches wide. The background is accented with tooling to resemble tree bark, small accent pieces represent cut branches from the main trunk of the tree. The base is fluted and filled with concrete type material to steady the base. A block stamp at the base is incised with "St. Louis Sewer Pipe & Co." A beautiful logo of Anheuser Bush's large "A" with the Eagle is featured on the front of the piece. According to the company records this logo design with the capital letter "A" and the figure of an eagle with its wings folded back into the A was used from 1872 to 1890's. This is an amazing piece that crosses several collecting fields.

The umbrella stand is in excellent condition with a few minor chips at the rim and the left branch.