A series of Grecian water pitchers in the Bayou Bend collection testifies to the variety of individual interpretations (see B.77.16, B. 91.48.1, .2, and B.93.23). The pitcher owned by John Swift, along with other silver he received, is indicative of the increasing popularity of silver vessels for presentation occasions. In 1832, Swift, a physician, received a five-piece tea service for his heroic response to an outbreak of cholera. While that silver was supplied by Edward Lownes, R. & W. Wilson later fashioned this pitcher to complement the service.

Technical notes: The cast feet are soldered to the base, the stem, its collar, the body, its upper section, and the handle, which is vented at the lowest scroll in the upper part. 

Related examples: The pitcher was designed to complement a tea service presented earlier to John Swift (Hanks and Peirce 1983, pp. 14–15).

Book excerpt: David B. Warren, Michael K. Brown, Elizabeth Ann Coleman, and Emily Ballew Neff.  American Decorative Arts and Paintings in the Bayou Bend Collection. Houston: Princeton Univ. Press, 1998.