Sugar tongs
Classification:
Date:
1784-1786
Medium:
Silver
Dimensions:
Overall: 1 x 6 x 1 7/8 in. (2.5 x 15.2 x 4.8 cm)
Silver Weight: 2 oz (troy) 3.1 dwt (67 g)
Description:
Silver sugar tongs; bow-form shaped above tapering arms with hollow oval grips; bright-cut floral decoration and geometric border on arms, grips and arch; arch engraved, "TMA" in script; maker's mark stamped inside the arch.
Credit Line:
Gift of Mr. John B. Morris, Jr.
Object Number:
1955.43
Marks:
engraved: on the arch: "FMA" in script
stamped: inside the arch: "Myers" in script in a conforming rectangle
Gallery Label:
During the eighteenth century, households obtained sugar in large cone-shaped loaves. Pieces were cut from the hard loaf with sugar nippers, a sturdy cutting device made of steel. During teadrinking, cut pieces were transferred from sugar dish to teacup using delicate sugar tongs such as these. The earliest form, made in England beginning around 1685, was probably inspired by fireplace tongs. By 1715, sugar tongs evolved into a scissor form, sometimes spring-loaded at the cross. The bow form, as seen here, made of one piece of metal bent in a U-shape to form two spring arms, was fashionable by the 1770s. The exterior of the bow and arms provided ample surface area for fashionable bright-cut engraving. These tongs, among the earliest dated examples of bright-cut engraving in New York, were made for merchant Thomas Arden, Jr. (1750-1834), and his wife, Mary Boyle (d. 1786), who married in New York City's Presbyterian Church in 1773.
Provenance:
Thomas Arden, Jr. (1750-1834) and Mary Boyle (d. 1786); probable descent to their niece Mary Elizabeth Babcock (1808-1851), who married William Lewis Morris (1805-1864); to their son John Babcock Morris (b. 1839), who married Mary E. Faitoute (b. 1845); to their son John Babcock Morris, Jr. (1881-1957), the donor.
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1786
eMuseum Object ID:
39388
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Dessert spoons (9)
Classification:
Date:
1795-1797
Medium:
Silver
Dimensions:
each overall: 7 x 1 1/4 x 3/4 in. ( 17.8 x 3.2 x 1.9 cm )
Description:
Nine silver dessert spoons with downturned pointed handles with short midribs on the undersides, bright-cut decoration and the engraved initials, "JVC" in script on the fronts; pointed oval bowls with pointed drops; maker's marks stamped on the underside of the handles.
Credit Line:
Bequest of Catherine Augusta de Peyster
Object Number:
1911.51a-i
Marks:
stamped: on underside of the handle: "W. G. Forbes" in script, bird's head in an oval, and a sheaf of wheat in a rectangle
engraved: on the handles: "J V C" in script
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1797
eMuseum Object ID:
39387
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Table knives (2) and table forks (2)
Classification:
Date:
ca. 1824
Medium:
Silver, steel
Dimensions:
Each (fork): 8 1/2 x 3/4 x 5/8 in. (21.6 x 1.9 x 1.6 cm)
Each (knife): 11 x 7/8 x 3/4 in. (27.9 x 2.2 x 1.9 cm)
Description:
Pair of silver and steel knives and forks with ovoid, pointed handles decorated with floral motifs and bands of chevrons; molded handle sockets; flat, curved steel blades on the knives; cast steel molded stems and three tines on the forks; maker's marks stamped on the handles.
Credit Line:
Gift of Mrs. Shelton E. Martin
Object Number:
1953.70a-d
Marks:
stamped: on all the handles: "lion passant in rectangles, unidentifiable mark crowned in an oval, "FM/ RT" in a rectangle
Gallery Label:
These knives and forks were presented to Commodore Bainbridge (1774-1833), the great-grandfather of the donor, by General Lafayette, who visited Bainbridge in Philadelphia in 1824.
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1824
eMuseum Object ID:
39386
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Pitcher
Classification:
Date:
1848
Medium:
Silver
Dimensions:
Overall: 11 3/4 x 7 1/2 x 9 1/4 in. ( 29.8 x 19 x 23.5 cm )
Description:
Wrought silver presentation pitcher; octagonal, pear-shaped body on a splayed, octagonal pedestal; pedestal decorated with alternating chased shell and foliate designs along the edge and wavy lines above; eight pentagons around the lower body chases with a foliate design; eight panels around the center of the body alternate with japanesque landscapes and inscriptions; engraved, "A Tribute of/ affection & Respect/ to/ Friendship Integrity &/ worth/ Presented by/ Henry Baldwin/ to his Friend/ Moses D. Burnet/ Nov. 10, 1848./ "My Friend & Pitcher"" in script; convex band around the neck with chased foliate decoration above and below; neck flares to a scalloped rim and broad, shallow pouring lip; plain band applied around the rim; scroll handle with foliate engraving applied to the body; makers' marks stamped on the base.
Credit Line:
Gift of Mrs. John Burnet Nash
Object Number:
1951.16
Marks:
Inscription: engraved around the center of the body: "A Tribute of/ affection & Respect/ to/ Friendship Integrity &/ worth/ Presented by/ Henry Baldwin/ to his Friend/ Moses D. Burnet/ Nov. 10, 1848./ "My Friend & Pitcher"" in script
Mark: stamped on th
Gallery Label:
This pitcher was presented by Henry Baldwin to his friend Moses D. Burnet (1792-1876) of Syracuse, NY. Burnet was the great-grandfather of the donor's husband.
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1848
eMuseum Object ID:
39375
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Teaspoon
Classification:
Date:
ca. 1900
Medium:
Silver
Dimensions:
Overall: 6 1/4 x 1 1/2 x 1/2 in. ( 15.9 x 3.8 x 1.3 cm )
Description:
silver teaspoon with an upturned pointed handle engraved, "Z" with a faint midrib on the underside and a pointed oval bowl; makers' marks stamped on the underside of the stem.
Credit Line:
Gift of George A. Zabriskie
Object Number:
1944.185a
Marks:
engraved: on the handle: "Z"
stamped: on the underside of the stem: "BLACK STARR & FROST/ STERLING" in roman letters
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1900
eMuseum Object ID:
39364
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Tablespoon
Classification:
Date:
ca. 1911
Medium:
Silver
Dimensions:
Overall: 8 3/8 x 1 3/4 x 1 1/4 in. ( 21.3 x 4.4 x 3.2 cm )
Description:
silver tablespoon in the Old Colony pattern with an upturned fiddle handle with a short, splayed midrib , flared shoulders and an elliptical bowl; maker's marks stamped on the underside of the handle.
Credit Line:
Purchase
Object Number:
1942.664
Marks:
stamped: on the underside of the handle: "1847 ROGERS BROS." besides a scale in a circle
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1911
eMuseum Object ID:
39356
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Tablespoons (2)
Classification:
Date:
ca. 1911
Medium:
Silver
Dimensions:
each overall: 8 3/8 x 1 3/4 x 1 1/8 in. ( 21.3 x 4.4 x 2.9 cm )
Description:
Pair of silver tablespoons in the Old Colony pattern with upturned fiddle handles with a short, splayed midribs, flared shoulders and elliptical bowls; maker's marks stamped on the undersides of the handles.
Credit Line:
Purchase
Object Number:
1942.665ab
Marks:
stamped: on the undersides of the handles: "1847 ROGERS BROS." besides a scale in a circle
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1911
eMuseum Object ID:
39357
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Carving knife and fork
Classification:
Date:
1878-1880
Medium:
Silver, mother-of-pearl
Dimensions:
fork: 9 1/2 x 1 1/4 x 1 1/8 in. ( 24.1 x 3.2 x 2.9 cm )
knife: 11 7/8 x 1 x 3/8 in. ( 30.2 x 2.5 x 1 cm )
Description:
Silver carving knife and fork with pointed, mother-of-pearl handles fitted with molded handle sockets decorated with foliate scrolls; flat, curved, knife blade; fork has two long pointed tines and has cast folding thumb-rest consisting of prongs and trident at shoulder; makers' hallmarks stamped on knife and fork handle sockets, knife blade, and fork rest.
Credit Line:
Gift of Adelaide Milton de Groot
Object Number:
1941.949ab
Marks:
stamped: on the handle sockets: "STERLING"
stamped: on the knife blade: "REED & BARTON"
stamped: on the fork rest: "PAT'D/ MAY 7TH/ 1878"
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1880
eMuseum Object ID:
39354
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Sugar tongs
Classification:
Date:
ca. 1833-1848
Medium:
Silver
Dimensions:
Overall: 6 x 1 3/8 x 1 in. ( 15.2 x 3.5 x 2.5 cm )
Description:
silver sugar tongs; bow-form with oval fiddle arms, flared shoulders and hollow shell form grips; "EB" engraved in script in the center of the bow; maker's marks stamped inside the arms.
Credit Line:
Purchase
Object Number:
1980.17
Marks:
engraved: in the center of the bow: "EB" in script
stamped: inside the arms: "J. DECKER" in roman letters, bust in a chamfered square, "D" in achamfered square, eagle in chamfered square
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1848
eMuseum Object ID:
39353
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Tablespoon
Classification:
Date:
ca. 1815-1819
Medium:
Silver
Dimensions:
Overall: 9 1/8 x 1 7/8 x 1 3/8 in. ( 23.2 x 4.8 x 3.5 cm )
Description:
silver tablespoon with a downturned fiddle handle engraved, "S" in script; pointed oval bowl with a squared drop; maker's mark stamped on the underside.
Credit Line:
Gift of Miss Constance Ogden
Object Number:
1957.226d
Marks:
engraved: on the handle: "S" in script
stamped: on the underside of the handle: "BB" in a rectangle
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1819
eMuseum Object ID:
39351
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
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