1989.2.McD Tiffany & Co., Water pitcher


GENERAL DESCRIPTION    
Tiffany & Co. produced at least eleven versions of this water patcher characterized by a circular rim foot, globular body, and prominent handle. A special order for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, this example features an elaborate decorative scheme of chrysanthemum flowers and leaves achieved through chasing and repoussé. As a result of the labor required, it cost $593 to produce. Production costs of the other versions ranged from $34 to $700. 

Adapted from
Charles L. Venable, Silver in America, 1840-1940: A Century of Splendor (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art; New York, New York; Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1994), 332. 

NOTES
TMS Update - GeoXRef - place of origin - JBA 10/16/2017

I removed the silver grade ("Sterling") from the Medium display field in TMS and added it as a Getty Vocabularies term. 

I edited, updated, or entered the Provenance, Exhibition History, Bibliography, and Published References fields in TMS.

I added the following as a TMS Text Entry: Charles L. Venable, Silver in America, 1840-1940: A Century of Splendor (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art; New York, New York; Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1994), 332. 

Catalogue essays 

Artist/designers

Cultures

Geography

Process/materials

Historical periods

Individuals

Subject terms

RELATED OBJECTS 

PROVENANCE
From 1948: Arthur E. Delmhorst, gift of Frances A. Guthrie [1]

1982: auction, "Fine American Furniture, Silver and Decorative Arts," Christie, Manson & Woods International, Inc., New York, January 23, 1982, sale SEYMOUR-5114, lot 28, as "A Water Pitcher” [2]

Until 1985: Kurland Zabar (Catherine Kurland and Lori Zabar), New York [3]

1985-d. 1987: Samuel Jones Wagstaff Jr. (1921-1987), New York, purchased from the above [3], [4], [5]

1987-1989: Estate of Samuel J. Wagstaff, Jr. (Robert Mapplethorpe (1946-1989)), New York [4], [5]

From 1989: Dallas Museum of Art, purchased at auction, "The Sam Wagstaff Collection of American Silver," Christie's, New York, January 20, 1989, sale WAGSTAFF-6748, lot 227, as "An Exposition Pitcher" [4], [5], [6]

[1] The water pitcher is inscribed "ARTHUR E. DELMHORST / In Affectionate Appreciation / of Many Years of Devoted Friendship / FRANCES A. GUTHRIE / 1906-1948."

[2] See Christie, Manson & Woods International, Inc. auction catalogue (copy in Collections Records Object File).

[3] See letter from Catherine Kurland to Charles Venable (dated February 2, 1989, copy in Collections Records Object File). 

[4] Cathleen McGuigan, "The Pleasure of the Chase," Newsweek, January 30, 1989, 62-63. 

[5] See Christie's auction catalogue (copy in Collections Records Object File). 

[6] Works of art given or purchased by The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc., a non-profit organization, are placed in the custody of the DMA for the purpose of public display on the premises of the Museum or in other recognized art galleries or museum. The title to all works of art purchased (or otherwise acquired) by the McDermott Art Fund remains with the Fund.

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General Description
   
Tiffany & Co. produced at least eleven versions of this water patcher characterized by a circular rim foot, globular body, and prominent handle. A special order for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, this example features an elaborate decorative scheme of chrysanthemum flowers and leaves achieved through chasing and repoussé. As a result of the labor required, it cost $593 to produce. Production costs of the other versions ranged from $34 to $700. 

Adapted from
Charles L. Venable, Silver in America, 1840-1940: A Century of Splendor (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art; New York, New York; Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1994), 332. 

Fun Facts

Archival Resources

Web Resources
 

Notes
TMS Update - GeoXRef - place of origin - JBA 10/16/2017

I removed the silver grade ("Sterling") from the Medium display field in TMS and added it as a Getty Vocabularies term. 

I edited, updated, or entered the Provenance, Exhibition History, Bibliography, and Published References fields in TMS.

I added the following as a TMS Text Entry: Charles L. Venable, Silver in America, 1840-1940: A Century of Splendor (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art; New York, New York; Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1994), 332. 

Catalogue essays 

Artist/designers

Cultures

Geography

Process/materials

Historical periods

Individuals

Subject terms

RELATED OBJECTS 

PROVENANCE
From 1948: Arthur E. Delmhorst, gift of Frances A. Guthrie [1]

1982: auction, "Fine American Furniture, Silver and Decorative Arts," Christie, Manson & Woods International, Inc., New York, January 23, 1982, sale SEYMOUR-5114, lot 28, as "A Water Pitcher” [2]

Until 1985: Kurland Zabar (Catherine Kurland and Lori Zabar), New York [3]

1985-d. 1987: Samuel Jones Wagstaff Jr. (1921-1987), New York, purchased from the above [3], [4], [5]

1987-1989: Estate of Samuel J. Wagstaff, Jr. (Robert Mapplethorpe (1946-1989)), New York [4], [5]

From 1989: Dallas Museum of Art, purchased at auction, "The Sam Wagstaff Collection of American Silver," Christie's, New York, January 20, 1989, sale WAGSTAFF-6748, lot 227, as "An Exposition Pitcher" [4], [5], [6]

[1] The water pitcher is inscribed "ARTHUR E. DELMHORST / In Affectionate Appreciation / of Many Years of Devoted Friendship / FRANCES A. GUTHRIE / 1906-1948."

[2] See Christie, Manson & Woods International, Inc. auction catalogue (copy in Collections Records Object File).

[3] See letter from Catherine Kurland to Charles Venable (dated February 2, 1989, copy in Collections Records Object File). 

[4] Cathleen McGuigan, "The Pleasure of the Chase," Newsweek, January 30, 1989, 62-63. 

[5] See Christie's auction catalogue (copy in Collections Records Object File). 

[6] Works of art given or purchased by The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc., a non-profit organization, are placed in the custody of the DMA for the purpose of public display on the premises of the Museum or in other recognized art galleries or museum. The title to all works of art purchased (or otherwise acquired) by the McDermott Art Fund remains with the Fund.

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1989.2.McD
tags
#draft
#completed
%copyedited_Gail
vessels (containers): AAT: 300193015
United States (nation): TGN: 7012149
*Decorative Arts and Design
decorative arts: AAT: 300054168
pitchers (vessels): AAT: 300194765
repoussé: AAT: 300054023
chasing (metalworking): AAT: 300054016
flowers (plants): AAT: 300132399
leaves (plant components): AAT: 300400479
New York (New York/United States): TGN: 7007567
@Robinson
Tiffany & Company: ULAN: 500330306
flower (motif): AAT: 300375563
sterling silver: AAT: 300010977
world's fairs: AAT: 300054778
Chrysanthemum (plants/genus): AAT: 300379959
source file
object_notes_4_a-0407.xml.nores