Maker
John Skinner (American, 1733–1813)American, 1733–1813
CultureAmerican
Titles
- Basin
Datec. 1760–1790
Made inBoston, Massachusetts, United States
MediumPewter
Dimensions1 5/16 × 8 1/8 in. diameter (3.3 × 20.6 cm)
Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, gift of Miss Ima Hogg
Object numberB.60.82
Current Location
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
Murphy Room
On view
Explore Further
Department
Bayou BendObject Type
The size and capacity of a basin dictated its function. A stock item, typically between six and twelve inches in diameter, it was employed for ecclesiastical as well as domestic use. Those belonging to churches were designated as baptismal basins, while secular examples were used either for dining or personal grooming.
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[Thomas D. and Constance R. Williams, Litchfield, Connecticut]; purchased by Miss Ima Hogg, 1960; given to MFAH, by 1966.
Exhibition HistoryTheta Charity Antiques Show 1989, Houston TX., September 13–17, 1989 (LN:89.33)
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
[no inscriptions]
Inside bottom: mark of John Skinner [Laughlin 1940, vol. I, pl. XLV, no. 295]
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.
