Standish Barry
Sugar Tongs (part of a Tea Set)

MakerAmerican, 1763–1844
CultureAmerican
Titles
  • Sugar Tongs (part of a Tea Set)
Datec. 1784–1815
Made inBaltimore, Maryland, United States
MediumSilver
Dimensions6 1/8 × 2 1/8 in. (15.6 × 5.4 cm)
Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, gift of Tiffany & Co.
Object numberB.67.5.4
Current Location
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
Metals Study Room
On view

Explore Further

Department
Bayou Bend
Object Type
Description

Neoclassicism was an appropriate style for the young democracy of the United States. It was largely inspired by British reconfigurations of ancient Greek and Roman motifs. In the former colonies, the years immediately following the Revolution are characterized by growing prosperity and technological innovations, both reflected in the silver objects they produced. Earlier, tea sets with matching vessels were rarely commissioned; by the Neoclassical period they were commonplace. Standish Barry’s tea set, with its beading and pierced galleries, typifies the Philadelphia-Baltimore interpretation, although the cream pot is a singular expression, its cover to keep warmth in and insects out and its unique spout more reminiscent of a teapot’s.

Technical notes: The pearlwork's consistency suggests it was cast. The teapot collar is fashioned separately and soldered on. Its lid is not hinged. The teapot and sugar urn's finials are bolted. The cream pot's is soldered on, and its lid is vented. A device that seems to be a cross between a shell and an anthemion secures the silver handle just below the rim.

Related examples: A range of Barry’s silver is illustrated in Pleasants and Sill 1972, pl. XVII; Goldsborough et al. 1983, p. 82, no. 29.

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.


Provenance[Tiffany & Co., New York, by 1956]; purchased by Miss Ima Hogg, 1967; given to MFAH, 1967.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Engraved on bow: EW
Inside bow: surname mark of Standish Barry [Goldsborough et al. 1983, p. 240. no. 18]

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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

Sugar Bowl (part of a Tea Set)
Standish Barry
c. 1784–1800
Silver
B.67.5.2.A,.B
Cream Pot or Creamer (part of a Tea Set)
Standish Barry
c. 1784–1815
Silver
B.67.5.3.A,.B
Teapot (part of a Tea Set)
Standish Barry
c. 1784–1815
Silver
B.67.5.1.A,.B
Tea Tongs or Sugar Nippers
John Coburn
c. 1750
Silver
B.69.110
Sugar Tongs
Gorham Manufacturing Company
c. 1870–1875
Silver
B.2002.35
Sugar Tongs
Samuel Ayres
c. 1786–1824
Silver
B.97.47
Sugar Tongs
Joseph F. Reeves
c. 1831–1851
Silver
B.97.42
Sugar Tongs
Charles A. Burnett
c. 1820–1840
Silver
B.97.41
Sugar Tongs
Charles A. Burnett
c. 1785–1810
Silver
B.85.13
Fire Tongs or Pipe Tongs
18th century
Iron
B.71.128
Sugar Tongs
Horace E. Potter
c. 1905-1910
Sterling silver and amber
2010.1516
Sugar Tongs
Frank Lloyd Wright
Designed 1919, made c. 1964
Silver plate
2008.160