Wm. S. Pitcairn Corp. v. United States

25 Cust. Ct. 145, 1950 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 25
CourtUnited States Customs Court
DecidedOctober 5, 1950
DocketC. D. 1277
StatusPublished

This text of 25 Cust. Ct. 145 (Wm. S. Pitcairn Corp. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Customs Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wm. S. Pitcairn Corp. v. United States, 25 Cust. Ct. 145, 1950 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 25 (cusc 1950).

Opinion

Cline, Judge:

This is a protest, arising at the port of New York, against the collector’s assessment of duty on china and earthenware figurines, at 45 per centum ad valorem under paragraph 212 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as modified by the trade agreement with the United Kingdom, T.D. 49753, on those made of china, and at 50 per centum ad valorem and 10 cents per dozen pieces under paragraph 211 on those made of earthenware. It is claimed that the articles are properly dutiable at 20 per centum ad valorem under paragraph 1547 (a) as “Works of art * * * statuary, sculptures, or copies, replicas, or reproductions thereof, valued at not less than $2.50.” The claim is limited to those articles shown by the appraiser’s return to be of a value of $2.50 or more each. All other claims in the protest have been abandoned.

[146]*146The court expresses appreciation of the excellent briefs supplied by counsel for both parties.

The pertinent provisions of the tariff act are as follows:

Par. 211. Earthenware and crockery ware composed of a nonvitrified absorbent body, including white granite and semiporcelain earthenware, and cream-colored ware, terra cotta, and stoneware, including * * * statues, statuettes;’ * * * and all other articles composed wholly or in chief value of such ware; * * * painted, colored, tinted, stained, enameled, gilded, printed, ornamented, or decorated in any manner, and manufactures in chief value of such ware, not specially provided for, 10 cents per dozen pieces and 50 per centum ad valorem.
Par. 212 [as modified by the trade agreement with the. United Kingdom, T. D. 49753]. China, porcelain, and other vitrified wares, including chemical porcelain ware, composed of a vitrified nonabsorbent body which when broken shows a vitrified or vitreous, or semivitrified or semivitreous fracture, and all bisque and parían wares, including * * * statues, statuettes, * * * and all other articles composed wholly or in chief value of such ware (except sanitary ware and parts and fittings therefor); any of the foregoing containing 25 per centum or more of calcined bone:
Painted, colored, tinted, stained, enameled, gilded, printed, or ornamented or decorated in any manner, and manufactures in chief value of such ware, not specially provided for:
4: # ‡
Other_45% ad val.
Par. 1547. (a) Works of art, including (1) paintings in oil or water colors, pastels, pen and ink drawings, and copies, replicas, or reproductions of any of the same, (2) statuary, sculptures, or copies, replicas, or reproductions thereof, valued at not less than $2.50, and (3) etchings and engravings, all the foregoing, not specially provided for, 20 per centum ad valorem.

At the trial 18 samples of the merchandise were received in evidence (plaintiff’s exhibits 1 to 18). It was stipulated that such articles—

* * * are true samples of, and respectively represent in all respects, all figures wherever so described or designated on the invoices accompanying the entries covered by the above numbered protest and may be received in evidence as such samples and marked respectively as plaintiff’s exhibits 1 to 18.
It is further stipulated and agreed that such samples may be so received as representative as to character, material, process of manufacture, and identical in other respects, except as to size, value, design and subject matter, of all figures covered by the above numbered protest and described or designated on the invoices accompanying said protest as “figures”, irrespective of any particular name and number under which such figures may be designated on said invoices.

There were received in evidence the deposition of Leslie Harradine (plaintiff’s exhibit 20), the deposition of Frederick Thomas Daws (plaintiff’s exhibit 21), and the depositions of Cecil J. Noke and of the individuals who painted the figures before the court (plaintiff’s exhibit 22).

Cecil J. Noke stated in his deposition that he is the art director of Doulton & Co., Limited (hereinafter called Doulton), and has held [147]*147that position for 12 years; that Doulton produces bone china and earthenware figures, tableware, vases, and decorative lines; that he is responsible for the production and designing of all patterns for such articles; that he is responsible for all new models, both figures and animals, for the coloring, and for all details attached thereto; that he was trained through schools of art which he attended while in the employ of Doulton; that he is familiar with all the processes by which the figures involved herein were produced at the factory; that he is responsible for the designing, making, and coloring of all figures produced by Doulton. He described the process by which the figures are made as follows:

The designs are originated by the artist-designer on paper or in clay — according to his individual method of working — a working model is prepared in plastic clay.
From the working model a set of master moulds is made in plaster of Paris. One mould does not suffice, of course, for a complete figure; it would be impossible to remove it. The figure has to be cut up in a number of separate pieces, for each of which a separate mould is made. Each dissected part of the model must fit perfectly when the various pieces are finally assembled. Each mould is used only a limited number of times and is then replaced — one reason why all Doulton figures are indistinguishable in exactitude of detail from the original model. Subsequent copies of the model are made by a process known as slip-casting. A liquid mixture of specially prepared clays and other ingredients is poured into each separate mould.
The porous plaster absorbs the water and the inner surfaces of the moulds gradually become lined with a coating of “set clay.” The filling of the moulds is done by figure-makers, each one a seasoned veteran at his or her job, knowing just how long the “slip” (or liquid clay) should be left in the moulds in order that the casting may have the right thickness and strength. At the proper time, the superfluous liquid is poured away and — after an interval for drying — the moulds are opened up and the various pieces are carefully removed and trimmed. They are then fitted together into a complete model, a process demanding great precision and delicacy of touch.
* * * * * * *
Flower-making is a specialised branch of work which invariably fascinates visitors to our Burslem unit. Each flower is made separately by hand. A roll of clay is thinly spread on the hand and from this the petals, stalks and other parts of the flower are deftly shaped and built up into the form of a flower.
After having been assembled and finished in the clay state, the figure is slowly dried to remove surplus water before the first major firing. Is is then placed with others in a fireclay container which in turn is placed in a pottery oven, in which it is fired or “baked” at a temperature far beyond the melting point of most metals.

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Bluebook (online)
25 Cust. Ct. 145, 1950 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 25, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wm-s-pitcairn-corp-v-united-states-cusc-1950.