Presentation spade

ca. 1907

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

Steel, silver, wood

Overall: 3 3/4 in. × 31 in. × 6 3/4 in. (9.5 × 78.7 × 17.1 cm)

Gift of the Honorable George B. McClellan

1922.104

This presentation spade was used by the donor to turn the first sod of the Catskill Water Supply System, June 20, 1907.

DescriptionSteel presentation spade with inlaid silver; blade, inscribed in the center, with a curved wooden shaft and oar shaped handle with an applied silver plaque; plaque engraved, "WITH THIS SPADE/ THE FIRST SOD WAS TURNED BY/ GEORGE B. Mc CLELLAN/ THE MAYOR" in roman letters; blade inscribed, "PRESENTED TO/ GEORGE B. Mc CLELLAN,/ MAYOR of THE CITY of NEW YORK/ COMMISSIONED BY THE BOARD/ OF WATER SUPPLY,/ J. EDWARD SIMMONS,/ CHARLES N. CHADWICK,/ CHARLES A. SHAW/ AT THE INAUGRATION/ OF THE/ CONSTRUCTION OF THE CATSKILL/ WATER WORKS,/ ON THE LINE OF THE AQUEDUCT/ NEAR PEEKSKILL, N.Y./ JUNE 20, 1907." below the seal of the City of New York surrounded by cornucopia.

Markingsengraved: on a plaque on the handle: "WITH THIS SPADE/ THE FIRST SOD WAS TURNED BY/ GEORGE B. Mc CLELLAN/ THE MAYOR" in roman letters engraved: on the blade: "PRESENTED TO/ GEORGE B. Mc CLEELAN,/ MAYOR of THE CITY of NEW YORK/ COMMISSIONED BY THE BOARD/ OF WATER SUPPLY,/ J. EDWARD SIMMONS,/ CHARLES N. CHADWICK,/ CHARLES A. SHAW/ AT THE INAUGRATION/ OF THE/ CONSTRUCTION OF THE CATSKILL/ WATER WORKS,/ ON THE LINE OF THE AQUEDUCT/ NEAR PEEKSKILL, N.Y./ JUNE 20, 1907." stamped: on the underside of the blade: "TIFFANY & CO MAKERS/ STERLING SILVER M"

ClassificationsSILVER