Presentation Pieces in the Museum of History and Technology: Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology, Paper No. 47 [Smithsonian Institution] — John Shaqi
Presentation Pieces in the Museum of History and Technology: Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology, Paper No. 47 [Smithsonian Institution]Klapthor, Margaret Brown
History
Presentation Pieces in the Museum of History and Technology: Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology, Paper No. 47 [Smithsonian Institution]
Klapthor, Margaret Brown
Silverwork
The fish platter (25 inches by 13 inches; cat. 39557) is similar to the
tureen in design. The oval vegetable dish (11 inches by 15-1/4 inches;
cat. 39558) is also similar and is inscribed the same way, including the
mark of "S. Kirk & Son Co."
An elaborate silver centerpiece given to Admiral Schley in Memphis,
Tennessee, in 1902 consists of a bowl, vase, and candelabra made to be
fitted into one unit (fig. 15). The large bowl (20 inches by 6 inches)
is chased in marine designs and bears the following inscriptions:
Presented to Winfield Scott Schley, Admiral U.S.N. in recognition
of his services in destroying the Spanish Fleet off Santiago de
Cuba, July 3, 1898.
Twenty-thousand American citizens join in honoring valor, fidelity
to duty and a lofty generosity that exemplified the sublimest
manhood. Memphis, Tennessee, April 28, 1902.
There is glory enough for All.
The silver vase (32 inches high) is made to fit into the bowl, and it
has a portrait of Admiral Schley on one side and a picture of his
flagship, the _Brooklyn_, on the other. Each end of the bowl is fitted
with a socket to hold a three-branch silver candelabra, and there are
two solid blocks of silver for insertion in the sockets when the
candelabra are not being used. These pieces are marked "Sterling" but no
maker's mark is visible.
A silver card (cat. 39518), measuring 3-1/4 inches by 5-1/2 inches, that
was presented to Schley at a dinner given in his honor is engraved as
follows:
Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley, U.S.N. The Commercial club of
Kansas City, Mo., November 19, 1902.
The turn of the century marks the beginning of the popularity of loving
cups as presentation pieces. There are four loving cups in the Admiral
Schley collection.
The earliest of these cups bears the following inscription:
Presented to Rear Admiral W. S. Schley by the citizens of Atlanta
Georgia, November 4, 1899.
This cup (cat. 39571), 9 inches in diameter and 14-1/2 inches in depth,
is shaped like a vase and is decorated with a scroll design. Each of its
three handles is attached to the cup with two applied silver oak leaves.
The piece is marked "Maier & Berkley, Atlanta, Georgia, Sterling,
385,16."
[Illustration: Figure 15.--CENTERPIECE GIVEN TO Adm. Winfield Scott
Schley in Memphis, Tennessee, for his services in Cuba during the
Spanish-American War. Part of the Schley collection, gift of Mrs. R. S.
Wortley. In Division of Naval History. (Acc. 136891, cat. 39548;
Smithsonian photo 45992-G.)]
Another silver cup with three handles was presented to Schley on
February 5, 1902, by the Chamber of Commerce and the citizens of
Knoxville, Tennessee, in recognition of his services during the
Spanish-American War. This cup (cat. 39573) has the mark of the Gorham
Silver Company and the words "Sterling, A 2219, 6 pints."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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