Artist/Maker William Gale (1799 - 1867)

Tea service

ca. 1835

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

Silver, ivory

see individual object records

Bequest of Mary MacKaye Greenwood

1969.10a-d

This raised and chased tea service with a related hot water urn is an example of the many variations of sets available to wealthy Americans during the 1830s and 1840s and illustrates the ways in which families augmented (or disassembled) them over time. The assembled service belonged to Dr. Isaac John Greenwood (1795-1865), a prominent New York City physician and dentist. Greenwood was the son of Dr. John Greenwood (1760-1819), a Revolutionary War veteran who arrived in New York in about 1785, and by 1789 had earned the distinction of becoming George Washington's dentist. Isaac Greenwood may have acquired the tea service around 1832, following his marriage to his second wife, Mary McKay (1815-1899). The couple probably had the hot water urn made later to match the set.

DescriptionWrought silver tea service consisting of a teapot, sugar bowl with lid, creamer and waste bowl; gadrooned, inverted pear-shaped bodies with chased acanthus leaves in each lobe of the lower bodies, and chased floral cartouches on the front and back of the upper bodies; on round, molded feet with bands of chased and repousséd flowers and leaves, applied vertical footrings with a die-rolled bead and floral design; joined to the bodies by round egg and dart pedestals; applied, cast concave shoulders with cast acanthus bands below and applied flat-ring necks above; applied vertical rims with a die-rolled bead and floral design; circular lids, flat at the edges with round gadrooned domes in the centers, cover with chased and repousséd flowers; cast, fruit basket finials; scroll handles partly covered with acanthus leaves and flowers; "G" engraved in script in the front cartouches; maker's marks stamped on the bases.

MarkingsInscription: engraved in front cartouches: "G" in script Mark: stamped on all bases: "W. G" in rectangle over an eagle in a circle and and unidentified hallmark in an ellipse

ClassificationsSILVER