Presentation soup tureen

1816

Place madePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North America

Silver

Overall: 16 1/2 × 15 1/2 × 8 1/2 in., 131 oz (troy) 15.7 dwt (41.9 × 39.4 × 21.6 cm, 4099 g)

The Eugene H. Pool Collection of Captain James Lawrence, Gift of Dr. Eugene H. Pool

1942.544ab

The War of 1812 produced numerous naval victories by the U.S. over the British Royal Navy. Especially notable was Capt. James Lawrence's defeat of the British brig "Peacock" in less than 15 minutes. Afterward, he was given this tureen in Philadelphia. He soon returned to sea and commanded the "Chesapeake." But on June 1, 1813, Lawrence lost his ship in minutes. Mortally wounded, he commanded, "Don't give up the ship," as the enemy boarded. He died 3 days later and was buried by his captors.

DescriptionWrought and cast silver presentation urn; deep, oval bowl with a beaded band applied below the concave shoulder; foliate band applied around the rim with bezel; seated on an oval pedestal with swag decoration and a splayed oval foot with a foliate and bead band around the edge; foot applied to a chamfered rectangular base with an applied beaded band and four scrolled legs with cast bearded and horned masks at the knees; ogee aprons between the legs, front apron with the applied inscription, "THE CITIZENS OF PHILADELPHIA / TO CAPTAIN J. LAWRENCE" in block letters, left apron engraved, "Peacock's Loss / 3 Killed 30 Wounded" in block letters, right apron engraved, "Hornet's Loss / 1 Killed 2 Wounded" in block letters, reverse apron engraved, "Presented by the Citizens of Philadelphia to Capt. James Lawrence, of the U.S. / Sloop of war Hornet; as a testimonial of the high sense the entertain of / his skill & gallantry in capturing, on the 24th February 1813, the British Sloop of war / Peacock of equal force, after a close action of 15 minutes, & of his humane / exertions, in reserving the vanquished Crew, from their sinking Ship." in script; two loop handles with acanthus grips and bearded Neptune's head joints; oval lid the raised to a flat dome with repoussé chased acanthus decoration around the dome and surmounted by a seated goddess of war in a draped toga, helmet, holding a shield and a laurel wreath to the victor. Engraving on lid of tureen has ornamental repousse, chased and possibly stamped or matted acanthus leaf border around shoulder of lid. Maker's marks stamped on base.

MarkingsMark stamped on the base underside: "CHAUDRON" in serpentine banner surround; mark stamped in relief at top of lid underside with two hallmarks, "CHAUDRON" in serpentine banner surrounds.

InscribedInscription on base: "THE CITIZENS OF PHILADELPHIA / TO CAPTAIN J. LAWRENCE" in block letters; inscription engraved on left side of the base: "Peacock's Loss / 3 Killed 30 Wounded" in block letters; and on base underside on inner center-back apron: "E.H.POOL"; inscription engraved on reverse of the base: "Presented by the Citizens of Philadelphia to Capt James Lawrence, of the U.S. / Sloop of wae Hornet; as a testimonial of the high sense the entertain of / his skill & gallantry in capturing, on the 24th February 1813, the British Sloop of war / Peacock of equal force, after a close action of 15 minutes, & of his humane / exertions, in reserving the vanquished Crew, from their sinking Ship." in script; engraved on the right side of the base: "Hornet's Loss / 1 Killed 2 Wounded" in block letters

ProvenancePresented to Julia Montaudevert Lawrence (1788-1865), widow of Captain James Lawrence (1781-1813); to their daughter Mary Neill Lawrence (1810-1843), who married William Preston Griffin (b. 1810); to their daughter Mary Lawrence Griffin (1843-1887), who married William Redmond, Jr. (b. 1835); probably to their son William Preston Redmond (1873-1938); to Eugene H. Pool (1874-1949), the donor.

ClassificationsSILVER