Andrew Ellicott Warner
Pitcher

Public Domain

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Maker Andrew Ellicott WarnerAmerican, 1786–1870

CultureAmerican

Titles

Pitcher

Datec. 1853

Named in inscriptionGalveston, Texas, United States

Made inBaltimore, Maryland, United States

Named in inscriptionNew Orleans, Louisiana, United States

MediumSilver

Dimensions14 5/8 × 9 1/8 × 6 1/4 in. (37.1 × 23.2 × 15.9 cm)

Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, museum purchase funded by Mr. and Mrs. M. S. Stude

Object numberB.89.7

Current Location

Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens

Kilroy Center

On view

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Department

Bayou Bend

Object Type

METALWORK

Description

This pitcher is the most extravagant example of Rococo Revival silver with a Texas history. Its presentation inscription relates that Captain Thomas Forbes, upon arrival of his passenger boat in New Orleans, learned of an outbreak of yellow fever. He decided against disembarking and safely returned his passengers to Galveston. The pitcher, with its vigorous repoussé decoration, is impressive in its scale and ornament, but does not represent a special commission. Perhaps it was obtained through Joseph Osterman (1779–1861), a Galveston merchant and one of the three official presenters whose names are engraved below the inscription. Prior to his arrival in Galveston Osterman had worked in Baltimore as a silversmith and probably maintained business connections with that city. The other presenters were General Memucan Hunt (1807–1856) and Dr. Anson Jones (1798–1858), the last president of the Republic of Texas.

Technical notes: The pitcher is composed of a foot rim, stem, body with a cast lip, and handle, which is not vented.

Related examples: Bartlett 1984, p. 37.

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.

ProvenanceCaptain Thomas Forbes (1817–1906), Sherman, Texas; by inheritance to his son, Thomas Forbes, Jr.; by inheritance to his daughter, Bessye (Mrs. T. W. House, III, 1877–1946); by inheritance to her son Edward M. House II (1912–1997), Houston; consigned to [Phyllis Tucker Antiques, Houston]; purchased by MFAH, 1989.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Engraved below spout: Presented to / Capt.[t superscript with period [.] underneath] Thos.[s superscript with period [.] underneath] Forbes, / by the passengers of the 'Perseverance,' / from Galveston to New Orleans, Augt.[t superscript with period [.] underneath] 7th[th superscript with period [.] underneath] 1853. / as a token of their grateful recollection of / his kindness in preserving (by his unexampled / despatch) their health and lives from exposure to / the fatal epidemic, prevailing at the time of / their arrival in the latter port. / Committee of presentation, / Gen. Memucan Hunt, Joseph Osterman & Dr.[r superscript with period [.] underneath] Anson Jones.
Engraved on foot band interior: 4610–58763 [added later]

On foot band: mark of Andrew Ellicot Warner [Belden 1980, p. 431]

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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