Pitcher

1818

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

Silver

Overall: 11 1/8 × 5 1/2 × 4 7/8 in., 42 oz (troy) 17.1 dwt (28.3 × 14 × 12.4 cm, 1333 g)

Gift of Clive Mecklem

1928.23a

Engraved beneath the spout of each of these pitchers is a powerful scene representing the Goddess of Liberty freeing young slaves from their shackles. The pitchers were presented by the New York Manumission Society to Joseph Reuben Curtis (1782-1856) in 1818 as a testimonial to his tireless efforts in persuading the state legislature to pass an act mandating the end of slavery in New York. Curtis had a long and productive philanthropic career dedicated to emancipation and education. He cited his work securing passage of the Manumission Act in 1817 as one of the happiest events of his life.

DescriptionOne of a pair of wrought silver presentation pitchers; ovoid-shaped bodies with large chased ovoid flutes; each on an oval foot with molded footrings; applied oval necks with short, broad pouring lips, low on the sides; molded bands applied around the rims; cast double-scroll handles applied to the back of each; circular engraving on the front of each of Liberty freeing the Slaves, she holds a liberty pole topped by a liberty cap and is removing shackles from the arms of two slaves, a freed slave reading and Joseph Curtis raising a mirror to reflect the the rays of the sun rising over mountains in the background; engraved below the vignettes, "Act. 31.st March 1817/ Manumission Society of New York/ Joseph Curtis" in roman letters and script; maker's marks stamped on the base.

MarkingsEngraved below vignette: "Act. 31.st March 1817 / Manumission Society of New York / Joseph Curtis" in roman letters and script; stamped on base: "J. Sayre" in script in conforming rectangles, twice

ClassificationsSILVER

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