MakerPossibly
Whiting Manufacturing Company(American, active 1866–1926)American, active 1866–1926
Retailer
Patrick Ford (American, active New York, 1874–1881)American, active New York, 1874–1881
CultureAmerican
Titles
- Ice Cream Knife
Datec. 1875–1881
Possible placeNorth Attleboro, Massachusetts, United States
Possible placeNew York, New York, United States
Retailed inNew York , New York, United States
MediumSilver and silver gilding
Dimensions11 × 2 9/16 in. (27.9 × 6.5 cm)
Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, gift of Phyllis and Charles Tucker in memory of Daisy Marchman Steakley
Object numberB.97.11.1
Current Location
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
Metals Study Room
On view
Explore Further
Department
Bayou BendObject Type
Its birdlike claw handle is transformed into a meandering vine that repeats the
bowl's contour as a three-dimensional pheasant scurries along the end of the
handle and into the foilate ornament. At this time an
attribution to any manufacturer is premature, since no documented example is known.
The original purpose for this utensil may have been as an ice cream knife,
although later catalogues identify it as a vegetable spoon.
Technical
notes: The bowl has a granulated surface and gilt trim. The
serving piece comes in a box, which is believed to have originally accompanied
it, labeled "P. Ford, 847 Broadway, N.Y."
Related
examples: Venable 1994, pp. 152–53, fig. 6.2.5.
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.
ProvenanceDonald Ritchie, San Francisco: [Butterfield & Butterfield, San Francisco]; Phyllis and Charles Tucker, Houston; given to MFAH, 1997.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Engraved on back of bowl: M
STERLING I 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.
Gorham Manufacturing Company
c. 1860–1875
Silver and silver gilding
B.97.7.1-.4
