Artist/Maker
William Forbes
(American, 1798 – 1888)
Retailer
Ball, Tompkins & Black
(active 1839 - 1851)
Pitcher
ca. 1849
Place madeNew York, New York, United States, North America
Silver
Overall: 15 5/8 × 8 5/8 × 6 1/2 in. (39.7 × 21.9 × 16.5 cm)
Bequest of Kate Warner
1914.13c
This salver and matching pair of pitchers were presented by the American Art Union to committee member Andrew Warner (father of the donor) on January 1, 1849. The organization was established in New York in 1842 to promote art patronage.
DescriptionOne of a pair of wrought and cast silver presentation pitchers; globular bodies with narrow necks flaring to high, narrow pouring lips, low on the sides and scrolled up in the back; molded band applied around the rim; repoussé chased grape leaves, vines and bunches on a stippled ground around the body outlined by scrolls; cartouches on opposite sides of each body engraved, "AW" in foliate script, left of the handles, "January 1, 1849" in script, right of the handles; foliate bands repoussé chased below the rims; fluted pedestals with applied foliate bands on a circular, stepped bases with applied trefoil footring; cast scroll handles with acanthus grips and grape leaf joints; makers marks stamped on the bases.MarkingsInscriptions: engraved in cartouches on opposite sides of each body: "AW" in foliate script, left of the handles, "January 1, 1849" in script, right of the handles
Retailer's mark: stamped in relief at center of bottom: "BALL, TOMPKINS & BLACK" in rectangular surround arranged in semi-circle/ "SUCCESSORS TO" [in rectangular surround]/ "W" [in oval surround] "MARQUAND & CO" [in rectangular surround arranged in semi-circle] "W" [in oval surround]/"W.F" W.F"/"NEW.YORK" [all in singular rectangular surrounds].
ClassificationsSILVER