1989.75, Coffeepot, Whiting Manufacturing Company, American, c. 1883


GENERAL DESCRIPTION  
Although less well known than Tiffany or Gorham, Whiting and Company produced some of the finest silver in America during the late 19th century. This coffeepot represents Whiting at its most innovative and technically dazzling. Rather than turning to Japan for inspiration, Whiting has drawn upon Russian silverwork which uses textiles and woven wicker as motifs. This vessel is particularly elaborate, having a "salvage edge" neck, and a body that takes the form of a woven bag drawn together at the top by a gold cord. A silver rope serves as the pot's handle.

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), 342.
  • Charles L. Venable, DMA Label copy, 1993.

NOTES
TMS Update 
place of origin

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WEB RESOURCES 
Metropolitan Museum of Art~Read more about Nineteenth-Century American Silver.

ARCHIVAL RESOURCES

FUN FACTS
Originally, the vessel may have been a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary gift.

TEACHING IDEAS

RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1989.75

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General Description
 
Although less well known than Tiffany or Gorham, Whiting and Company produced some of the finest silver in America during the late 19th century. This coffeepot represents Whiting at its most innovative and technically dazzling. Rather than turning to Japan for inspiration, Whiting has drawn upon Russian silverwork which uses textiles and woven wicker as motifs. This vessel is particularly elaborate, having a "salvage edge" neck, and a body that takes the form of a woven bag drawn together at the top by a gold cord. A silver rope serves as the pot's handle.

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), 342.
  • Charles L. Venable, DMA Label copy, 1993.

Fun Facts
Originally, the vessel may have been a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary gift.

Archival Resources

Web Resources
 
Metropolitan Museum of Art~Read more about Nineteenth-Century American Silver.

Notes
TMS Update 
place of origin

Catalogue essays

Artist/designers

Cultures

Geography 

Process/materials

Historical periods

Individuals

Subject terms

RELATED OBJECTS 

PROVENANCE 

AUDIO ASSETS 

VIDEO ASSETS

rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1989.75
tags
#draft
#completed
%copyedited_Gail
%Archived
vessels (containers): AAT: 300193015
handles: AAT: 300024927
United States (nation): TGN: 7012149
*Decorative Arts and Design
decorative arts: AAT: 300054168
@bartsch-allen
containers (hierarchy name): AAT: 300045611
%TMS pending
containers (receptacles): AAT: 300197197
beverages: AAT: 300389821
%Geo pending
%ProvenancePending
lids (covers): AAT: 300045712
textiles (visual works): AAT: 300014063
leaves (plant components): AAT: 300400479
silver (metal): AAT: 300011029
floral patterns: AAT: 300010135
coffee (food / dye): AAT: 300254662
textile art (visual works): AAT: 300386843
flower (motif): AAT: 300375563
coffeepots: AAT: 300072215
gold (color): AAT: 300311191
cord (fiber product): AAT: 300014247
Whiting Manufacturing Company: ULAN: 500330428
ruffle (trimming): AAT: 300253712
rope: AAT: 300014248
spouts (container components): AAT: 300197224
bags (generic containers): AAT: 300194509
woven (material): AAT: 300411341
Russian (culture or style): AAT: 300111276
wicker: AAT: 300014690
wickerwork (visual works): AAT: 300044074
source file
object_notes_1_a-0403.xml.nores