Vegetable dish

1855

Place madeNew York, New York, United States, North America

Silver

Overall: 8 3/4 × 4 3/4 × 13 in., 34 oz (troy) 1.6 dwt (22.2 × 12.1 × 33 cm, 1060 g)

Gift of the Honorable Perry Belmont

1936.22

On December 28, 1855, the Chamber of Commerce and Merchants of New York presented Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry with a 381-piece silver dinner service in acknowledgement of his successful negotiation of a treaty with Japan in 1854. In the letter of presentation the committee remarked, "To have brought this secluded Empire, into the intercourse of nations; is an achievement which may justly be ranked, among the greatest events of the age..."

DescriptionWrought silver presentation vegetable dish; shallow, ovoid bowl on a ovoid pedestal with applied cast scroll design and four scroll and trefoil feet; egg and dart rim and vertical bezel applied to the bowl; two cast floral strap handles applied at the ends; sides of the bowl engraved with the Perry family crest, an anchor on fess below a hind's head, on one side and the inscription, "Presented to Commodore/ Matthew Calbraith Perry/ by the Chamber of Commerce and/ Merchants of New York" in script on the other side; makers' marks stamped on the base.

Markingsengraved: on the front center: "Presented to Commodore/ Matthew Calbraith Perry/ by the Chamber of Commerce and/ Merchants of New York" in script stamped: on the base: "WM GALE & SON/ NEW YORK" over "W/G/&/S" in an oval over, "1/53/8" in a diamond

ClassificationsSILVER