Landing of General Lafayette at Castle Garden punch bowl

ca. 1845

Place made, probablyEngland, Europe

Place made, probablyNew Jersey, United States

Transfer-printed earthenware, overglaze enamels, gilding

Overall: 23 × 32 in. (58.4 × 81.3 cm)

Gift of Rosalie M. Heiser and John Jay Heiser

1910.24

This 22-gallon punch bowl was once believed to have held libations served to the Marquis de Lafayette and other guests at the banquet given in his honor at Castle Garden during his 1824-1825 tour of the United States. The painted scene is based on an engraving published after Lafayette's arrival, however, and depicts architectural features not added to the entertainment hall until years later. Owned by the Heiser family, proprietors of Castle Garden between 1843 and 1852, the bowl may have been used to promote the establishment.

DescriptionEarthenware (pearlware) punch bowl decorated with hand-painted scene of arrival of the Marquis de Lafayette at Castle Garden in 1824; bowl interior with single band of gilded vine and berry decoration; exterior of bowl with gilded edge, two large painted scenes in cloud-like reserves of the Landing of Lafayette, showing Castle Garden, river, ships, and cannons firing along a promenade; between two painted scenes on each side, an eagle perched on a shield with 13 stars above, over crossed American flags with 24 stars; band of gilding near base of bowl; separable pedestal base secured with screw; band of gilding above band of gilded vine and berry decoration; gilded band at base of pedestal.

MarkingsPainted at bottom right of scene: "LANDING OF GEN-LAFAYETTE / at Castle Garden New York / 16th August 1824"

ClassificationsCERAMICS

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