Wood & Hughes
Pitcher

RetailerAmerican, 1813–1872
CultureAmerican
Titles
  • Pitcher
Datec. 1845–1872
Possible placeMobile, Alabama, United States
Possible placeNew York, New York, United States
MediumSilver
Dimensions11 1/4 × 10 × 7 in. (28.6 × 25.4 × 17.8 cm)
Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, gift of William J. Hill
Object numberB.2008.13
Current Location
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
Kilroy Center
On view

Explore Further

Department
Bayou Bend
Object Type
Description

This silver pitcher bears the mark of the well-known Mobile silversmith and retailer, James Conning. He served his apprenticeship in his native New York but soon left for Mobile where he spent the remainder of his career. 

Scholars of southern silver have never uncovered evidence that Conning produced anything other than flatware. Hollowware bearing his stamp, such as a teapot in the Bayou Bend Collection, is identified with makers active in the Northeast (B.82.3). For example, although the museum’s teapot is marked “J.CONNING/MOBILE,” it is attributed to the New York firm of Wood and Hughes. This assignment is based on the fact that their stamp appears along with Conning’s other objects. Furthermore, the cast and die-rolled elements on this teapot are identical to related components on silver stamped “Wood & Hughes.” 

This pitcher differs from other vessels with Conning’s mark. It suggests the hand of a less sophisticated craftsman, raising the possibility that it was fashioned in Conning’s Mobile shop. In an effort to learn more about this object, its composition was plotted using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The analysis reveals that the pitcher has a slightly higher concentration of silver than the 92.5 percent that one would expect at this time. While there is no conclusive evidence, the analysis raises the possibility that the pitcher may have been fashioned in Mobile.


Provenance Research Ongoing Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Scratched on base: 2263 / 8195
Stamped on base: J. CONNING / MOBILE

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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

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