R. & W. Wilson
Pitcher

MakerAmerican, partnership active 1825–1846
CultureAmerican
Titles
  • Pitcher
Datec. 1839
Made inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
MediumSilver
Dimensions15 1/16 × 10 7/8 × 6 3/4 in. (38.3 × 27.6 × 17.1 cm)
Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, museum purchase funded by William R. Camp, Jr., Frank Hevrdejs, and William Oehmig in honor of the Sterling Group at "One Great Night in November, 1993"
Object numberB.93.24
Current Location
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
Metals Study Room
Exposé

Explore Further

Department
Bayou Bend
Object Type
Description

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.


ProvenanceJohn Swift (1790–1873), Philadelphia; [Hirschl & Adler Galleries, New York]; purchased by MFAH, 1993.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Engraved below spout: A token of respect / TO / John Swift Esquire / LATE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PHILA. [A superscript with period [.] underneath] / PRESENTED / By / His Commissioned Officers. / Jany. [y superscript with period [.] underneath] 15th.. [th superscript with two periods [..] underneath] 1839.
Underneath body: R & W. WILSON / STANDARD [Belden 1980, p. 450, a]
Each corner of base: R & W. WILSON [Belden 1980, p. 450, a]

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

Ladle
R. & W. Wilson
c. 1825–1846
Silver
B.93.20
Fish Fork and Knife
R. & W. Wilson
c. 1835–1845
Silver
B.2008.10.1,.2
Hot-Water Urn
R. & W. Wilson
c. 1825–1846
Silver
B.93.28.A-.D
scan from file photograph
R. & W. Wilson
c. 1826–1846
Silver
B.82.16
scan from file photograph
R. & W. Wilson
c. 1836–1848
Silver
B.82.24.2
scan from file photograph
R. & W. Wilson
c. 1837–1846
Silver
B.82.24.1
Calling Card Case
Leonard and Wilson
c. 1847–1850
Silver
B.92.12
Cup
Samuel Bell
c. 1854
Silver
B.2005.16
Pitcher
William Thomson
c. 1820–1825
Silver
B.93.23
Pitcher and Tray
Stephen Richard
c. 1815–1839
Silver
B.91.48.1,.2
Teapot
E. & W. Bennett
c. 1850–1852
Lead-glazed earthenware (Rockingham ware)
B.57.22.A,.B
Spoon
John R. Wendt
c. 1870–1890
Silver with gilding
B.2000.7