GENERAL DESCRIPTION
During the late 1870s and early 1880s, American designers were fascinated by Japanese art. The eastern influence was particularly strong in the area of silver work with the firms of Tiffany & Company and Gorham often producing extraordinary objects. This tray is such a piece and was one of a series of special-order trays made in 1881. Based directly on an example of pottery published in Keramic Art of Japan (London, 1875), it is an exceptionally fine example of Japanese-influenced metalwork. Although slight alterations were made, the dragon is very close to the ceramic prototype. So that the marks would not damage the exceptionally fine chasing, they were engraved on the verso, not stamped.
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),175 and 343.
- Charles L. Venable, DMA unpublished material.
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WEB RESOURCES
- YouTube~Watch a video about Gorham Manufacturing Company.
- Metropolitan Museum of Art~Read more about Nineteenth-Century American Silver.
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Apply to objects where number equals 1993.10
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General Description
During the late 1870s and early 1880s, American designers were fascinated by Japanese art. The eastern influence was particularly strong in the area of silver work with the firms of Tiffany & Company and Gorham often producing extraordinary objects. This tray is such a piece and was one of a series of special-order trays made in 1881. Based directly on an example of pottery published in Keramic Art of Japan (London, 1875), it is an exceptionally fine example of Japanese-influenced metalwork. Although slight alterations were made, the dragon is very close to the ceramic prototype. So that the marks would not damage the exceptionally fine chasing, they were engraved on the verso, not stamped.
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),175 and 343.
- Charles L. Venable, DMA unpublished material.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
- YouTube~Watch a video about Gorham Manufacturing Company.
- Metropolitan Museum of Art~Read more about Nineteenth-Century American Silver.
Notes
TMS
text entry
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
1993.10
source file
object_notes_1_a-0437.xml.nores