Covered Two-Handled Urn Maker: Fletcher and Gardiner (American, 1808–1836)

1830

American Decorative Arts

On view, 1st floor, American Decorative Arts before 1900

The silversmiths Thomas Fletcher and Sidney Gardiner created some of the most imaginative presentation silver of the early nineteenth century. They specialized in Neoclassical forms, such as the two-handled amphora shape, and decoration, such as the paw feet, acanthus leaves, and grape vines, seen on this urn. The urn was presented to James C. Fisher by the proprietors of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal to honor his "faithful and useful Services as President of the Company." When the canal was completed in 1829, it was one of the most expensive construction projects in the young nation and immediately facilitated trade throughout the Mid-Atlantic states. The maritime context for the commission of the urn is underscored by the plaques on the side of the plinth, which depict the construction and operation of the canal, and by the figure of Neptune, who surmounts the lid.

Medium

Silver

Dimensions

21 × 12 1/4 in. (53.3 × 31.1 cm)
base (Width): 6 3/8 in. (16.2 cm)

Credit Line

Gift of Joseph B. Brenauer

Accession Number

1942.245

Geography

Made in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Culture

American

Period

19th century

Classification

Containers

Disclaimer

Note: This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect the Yale University Art Gallery’s complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of records is ongoing.

Bibliography
  • Helen A. Cooper et al., Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: American Art from the Yale University Art Gallery, exh. cat. (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Art Gallery, 2008), 276, no. 168, ill
  • Donald L. Fennimore and Ann Wagner, Silversmiths to the Nation: Thomas Fletcher and Sidney Gardiner: 1808-1842, exh. cat. (Easthampton, MA: Antique Collector's Club Ltd., 2007),
  • Handbook of the Collections, exh. cat. (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Art Gallery, 1992), 110, ill
  • Harold Newman, An Illustrated Dictionary of Silverware (New York: Thames and Hudson, 1987), 136, ill
  • Barbara M. Ward and Gerald W. R. Ward, eds., Silver in American Life: Selections from the Mabel Brady Garvan and Other Collections at Yale University, exh. cat. (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Art Gallery, 1979), 35, 96–98, no. 73, ill
  • Graham Hood, American Silver: A History of Style, 1650–1900 (New York: Praeger, 1971), 194–95, 197, fig. 217
  • Kathryn C. Buhler and Graham Hood, American Silver in the Yale University Art Gallery, 2 vols. (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Art Gallery, 1970), vol. 1, pp. 235–37, no. 928, ill
Object copyright
No Copyright - United States
Additional information

Object/Work type

urns, utilitarian objects

Marks

"FLETCHER & GARDINER" around edge of circle, and "PHILA" in rectangle, inside circle on bottom of body; "T", "F", and "P" each on diagonally lined ground in cartouches; profile head in circle and eagle with shield in circle, under foot

Inscriptions

"Presented by the Proprietors/ of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal to/ JAMES C. FISHER ESQ./ in testimony of his faithful and/ useful Services/ as President of the Company/ June 7, 1830" engraved on plaque screwed to front of square base

Technical metadata and APIs

IIIF

Open in Mirador

View IIIF manifest

The International Image Interoperability Framework, or IIIF, is an open standard for delivering high-quality, attributed digital objects online at scale. Visit iiif.io to learn more

Linked Art

API response for this object

Linked Art is a Community working together to create a shared Model based on Linked Open Data to describe Art.