The Winterthur Library
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry
Francis du Pont
5105
Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware 19735
Telephone:
302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883
OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION
Creator: Osborne, Charles, 1847-1920
Title: Papers and Drawings
Dates: ca.1870-ca.1920
Call No.:
Acc. No.: 91x23
Quantity: 240 items
Location: 42 I 1-4, and map case C, drawer 1
BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT
Charles
Osborne was a designer of patterns for silver objects, active during the late
19th and early 20th centuries. He was
employed first by the Whiting Manufacturing Company and then by Tiffany &
Co. In 1888, he returned to Whiting
where he eventually became a company vice president. Osborne patented designs and an improved
method of shaping ornamental borders of silverware. He was a member of the Art
Students League of New York City and was active in
In
the 1870 census for Attleboro, Mass., Charles Osborne was listed as a 24 year
old silver engraver, born in England, living with the silver manufacturer
William D. Whiting. Osborne is mentioned
in an article by Abigail Nova, “The Japanesque Silver of the Whiting
Manufacturing Company,” published in The
Magazine Antiques in its September/October 2011 issue. Unfortunately, nothing else was learned about
him.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The
collection consists of Osborne's personal and professional papers; photographs
of family members, sources for designs, and Osborne's finished work; rough
pencil sketches of design patterns; and finished drawings of objects. The drawings are the highlight of the
collection, depicting as they do such objects as pitchers, vases, trophies,
medals, water kettles, tea and coffee pots, sugar bowls, milk pitchers, and
trays. There is much use of subdued
color, and in a few instances, drawings are of objects that combine the use of
both glass and silver. The most
frequently depicted item is the spoon.
Some of Osborne's drawings of spoons have numbers written on them,
suggesting that he may have had access to a catalog or register to record
patterns. The spoon designs range from
early conceptual sketches to illustrations of finished products. Some have very plain handles while others are
highly ornate. In addition to designing
spoons for everyday use, Osborne created souvenir spoons, specifically for
Among
Osborne's professional papers is a three year contract with the Whiting
Manufacturing Company, dated 1871, that made him artist and director of matters
dealing with "works of art and design" in the firm's design
department. Also present is a letter
from a competing firm asking him to talk over business matters, an 1878 letter
explaining his move to Tiffany, and an 1888 offer of salary and stock benefits
from Whiting.
The
manuscripts of a personal nature include Charles and Eliza Osborne's marriage
certificate, the family's deed to a plot in
ORGANIZATION
The
collection is organized into three series: papers and manuscripts, photographs,
and drawings.
PROVENANCE
Osborne's
papers and drawings remained in the possession of his descendants until 1991
when the settlement of the estate of a family member occasioned their
acquisition by
ACCESS POINTS
People:
Osborne, Eliza
Church, Frederick S. (Frederick
Stuart), 1842-1924, correspondent.
Low, Will H., 1853-1932,
correspondent.
Topics:
American Fine Arts Society.
Art Students League.
World’s Columbian Exposition (1893:
Carnegie Hero Fund Commission.
Design.
Wages – Metal-workers.
Glass, Ornamental.
Design protection.
Art metal-work.
Silverwork, Victorian.
Silverwork, 20th century.
Decoration and ornament.
Silverware - Patterns.
Silver flatware - Drawings.
Silver industry -
Silver bowls - Drawings.
Arts and crafts movement.
Silverwork - Designs and plans.
Spoons - Design.
Decoration and ornament - Louis XIV
style.
Medallions (Decorative arts).
Finance, Personal -
Receipts.
Photographic prints.
Sketches.
Drawings.
Drafts (documents).
Patents.
Clippings.
Envelopes.
Contracts.
Letters.
Sketchbooks.
Artists.
Silversmiths.
Designers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
COLLECTION
Location: 42 I 1-4 and map case C,
drawer 1
Series I: Papers and
manuscripts
Folder
1: Receipts
.2 Receipt
for Osborne’s payment of $33.33 for the month of Oct. 1881.
.24 Receipt
for payment of dues by Osborne to the Fortitude Lodge, no. 19, F. and A.M.,
April 1878.
.31 Receipted
bill to the estate of Sarah Ann Elder,
for payment of
undertaking services – chestnut casket, silver name plate, silk robe, porters,
hearse, coaches, pine box, clearing away snow, opening grave, ferriage
Folder
2: Receipts
.3-.10 Receipts for doctor's bills and other medical services, dating
between 1874 and 1889. The doctors were
located in
Folder
3: Receipts
.11-.14 Receipts from Delos Palmer for dental services,
Folder
4: Promissory notes
.15-.22 Promissory notes to Osborne from William and David
Elder, 1876.
.23 Promissory note to Osborne from
Sidney Osborne, Oct. 1879
Folder
5: Lists
.26 List
of dates and prices from 1874 to 1879.
Folder 6: Accounts
.27-.28 Accounts between John F. Baker (lawyer) and Charles
Osborne, 1875-1881.
Folder 7: Legal documents
.29 Certificate
of marriage between Charles Osborne and Elisa Harris Chapman Elder,
.1 Landlord's
agreement. Charles Osborne rented a
house on
.25 Deed
for the Woodland Cemetery, New York City, lot number 11530,
Folder 8: Letters
.45 Letter
to Osborne, no place, from his brother, John Baker,
Discusses his [Baker’s]
idea of buying a house in Westwood
.33 Letter
to Osborne, Supt. Whiting Co.,
Regarding a design and
cutting a seal for the American Fine Arts Society.
.32 Letter
to Osborne,
Sorry Charles did not
get the commission for the “Bryant Vase” – everyone thinks his was the best
design; Whiting Co. business; looking forward to seeing Charles’ new designs
.46 Letter
to Osborne, no place, from H. B. Dominick, no place,
Discusses a time for a
meeting.
[See material with the finding
aid relating to H. B. Dominick, a silver manufacturer]
.41 Letter
to Osborne, Whiting Co., New York City, from Alex J.C. Skene, Brooklyn, April
9, 1882.
Thanks Osborne for the
photo of Harold Skene Osborne.
.30 Letter
to Osborne from
“I
have set up a statue of you … as my patron saint. How I worship at your shrine. Consider yourself St. Osborne ….”
Includes a sketch of
Church kneeling at the statue of St. Osborne.
.34 Letter
to Osborne, Whiting Mfg. Co., from Frank Millet,
Setting
a date to meet
Folder 9: Osborne and Whiting Mfg.
Co.
.44 Agreement
between Osborne and Whiting,
Osborne agrees to work
as an artist in Whiting’s Design Department in
.40 Draft
of a letter to Whiting Manufacturing Co. from Osborne,
Osborne resigns from his
position at Whiting in order to work with Mr. Moore at Tiffany & Co. –
wants to go there in order to further develop his artistic abilities.
[the envelope in which
this letter was found was addressed to Charles Osborne at Whiting Co., and is
not the original envelope for the letter]
.47 Note
about an agreement between Osborne and Whiting Mfg. Co.,
Whiting Co. is to transfer
shares of its stock to Osborne provided Osborne can “secure his release from a
certain verbal understanding with Tiffany & Co.”
.42 Letter
to Osborne, New York City, from R.W. Higgins, Whiting Manufacturing Co.,
Discusses the need for
more Wedgwood serving pieces and asks Osborne's permission to use various
"punches" to make needed pieces.
Mentions cream ladle, medium and small cold meat forks, salad spoon and
fork, mayonnaise ladle, olive spoon and fork, pea spoon, and butter knife.
.43 Inventory
and price list for Wedgwood fancy flatware,
Folder 10: Patents
.48 Patent
certificate awarded to Osborne for improvement in the method of shaping
ornamental borders in silverware,
.49 Copy
of a patent given to Osborne for the design of a salad spoon,
.50 Copies
of four designs of fork and spoon handles patented by Osborne between 1874 and
1876.
.51 Copy
of a patent given to Osborne for a hinge,
.52 Copy
of a patent given to Osborne for a method of perforating metal, particularly
for tops of condiment bottles and similar articles,
Folder 11: Manuscripts
.56 Papers
explaining the loss of pieces during production and use of certain
"punches" for various serving pieces.
Also included is a letter written in French.
.57 Paper
discussing how the production of silverware could be done in a manner similar
to coin production, hence cutting time, steps, and cost.
Folder 12: James Donna material
.53-.54 Letters to James Holden, White Plains, N.Y., and Richard
Osborne, Pittsfield, Mass., from James Donna, Pittsfield, Mass, May 15 and 18 1964.
Regarding
the estate of Christine S. Osborne.
Folder 13: Miscellaneous
.35 Letter
in form of a poem to Santa Claus from Evelyn and Harold Skene Osborne children,
Includes a list of what
they want for Christmas: parlor skates, velocipede, violin, dolls’ cloak, “and
as many other things as you can spare”
.36 Note
in crayon,
“1000d thanks – will
write from
.37 Newspaper
article describing services held at the
A Mr. Osborne was the
basso soloist in the choir. Most of the
article describes the floral decorations and the music.
.38 Newspaper
clipping giving home remedies for smallpox and colds.
.39 Ticket
for the Steamship
.55 Photocopy
of a page from the catalog, American
Historical Medals, illustrating the Cleopatra's Needle medal designed by
Charles Osborne and Gaston Feuardent in 1881.
The medal commemorated the erection of an ancient Egyptian obelisk, called
Cleopatra’s Needle, in
.58 Newspaper
clipping advertising a ceramic "Columbus Water Pitcher," made by
Copeland & Sons, Stoke-on-Trent, England.
Series
II: Photographs
Folder 14: Family Photographs
.187 Bust
of a youngish man, perhaps Osborne.
.188 Bust of a man identified as Louis Gurmaer,
taken in
.189 Tintype
of a young woman; checks and lips have been tinted; in pink paper folder
.190 Tintype
of two young woman; checks and lips have been tinted; ca.1870.
.191 Print
of a young woman, ca.1860. In an
envelope addressed to Osborne at Broadway & 19th,
Folder 9:
.183 Photo
of statue of a woman partially draped in classical garb, holding a small figure
of a woman in flowing drapes
.184 Photo
of statue of a man and woman in a classical landscape (trees and top of a
temple or tomb), beneath them is another figure, perhaps meant to represent
death; an animal of some sort (or perhaps an animal pelt with the tail
attached) hangs from the man’s shoulders.
.185b Photograph of a silver trophy, decorated with figures that are
half woman and half fish (but not like the usual representation of mermaids),
seaweed, and dolphins.
.186 Photograph
of a silver bowl with footed base, with classical decorative motifs.
Folder 10:
.192
Photograph of a bust of a man, perhaps
Osborne.
.193 Photograph
of six young men in suits. “Jester” is
written under the photo. Osborne’s son
attended
.194 Photograph
of a young man, perhaps Osborne.
.195 Photographs
of a man, perhaps Osborne.
Folders
11-12:
.196-.198 Photographs of a man, perhaps Osborne.
Folder 13:
.179 Photograph
of round plaque, with an angel playing a harp centered on the round dial which
features the signs of the zodiac. The
name C. Bauer appears on the outer rim of the circle and it is dated 1862.
Folder 14:
.185a Photograph
of bas relief depicting an angel holding up a sign with a religious quotation
(“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord...”).
Series
III: Drawings
Folder 15:
.59 Sketch
of the tines of a fork. "5755
serving fork, duplicate tracing, Wedgwood.
Sp. to match"
.60 Sketch
of the blade of a knife. "5752
crumb knife (small) duplicate tracing, Wedgwood."
.61 Sketch
of a knife (spreader). "Butter spreader (small) duplicate tracing,
Wedgwood."
.62 rough
sketches of the tines of four forks, with titles: "Large D.V. C.M.F/r,"
"Jumel(?) - Medium cold meat fork," "Adam, cold meat fork,"
and "Cold meat fork, small."
The reverse side
features an outline for a hand held mirror--cut to shape on one side. Names of various pieces of flatware are
written in pencil (caddy scoops, toast fork, etc).
.63 Sketch
of the bowl of a spoon. "Jelly
spoon, Wedgwood."
.64 Three
sketches on tracing paper of tines of forks, identified as a "salad fork,
small," "cold meat fork, medium," and "cold meat fork,
large."
Folder
16:
.65 Sketch
of the tines of a fork, labeled
"5680 Cold meat fork, duplicate tracing, Wedgwood." Drawing crossed out with the note “too short.”
.66 Sketch
of the end of large sugar tongs.
"5789, ice cream and coffee handles, duplicate tracing,
Wedgwood."
.67 Sketch
of the tines of an "olive fork" (with two tines).
.68 Sketch
of the end of small sugar tongs. "5789A, coffee sp. handle, duplicate
tracing, Wedgwood."
.69 Sketch
of the tines of a small beef fork. "5682, duplicate tracing,
Wedgwood."
.70 Sketch
of the tines of a lettuce fork.
"5617, duplicate tracing, Wedgwood."
Folder
17:
.71 Sketch
of the bowl of a tomato server.
"5621, duplicate tracing, Wedgwood."
.72 Sketch
of the blade of a large fish knife. "5750, duplicate tracing,
Wedgwood."
.73 Sketch
of a flat butter knife, and the blade of a butter knife. "5792, use die of
individual fish knife, duplicate tracing, Wedgwood."
.74 Sketch
of individual fish knife. "5790,
flat butter knife handle, duplicate tracing, Wedgwood."
.75 Sketch
of flat cake knife. "5791, flat
butter knife handle, duplicate tracing, Wedgwood."
Folder
18:
.76 Sketch
of the tines of an olive fork.
"5847, make plaster, duplicate." With an additional note about making the
handle. Dated
.77 Sketch
of the tines of a cold meat fork, medium.
"5680, new tracing, die made."
.78 Sketch
of the bowl of a spoon. "5788,
.79 Sketch
of the bowl of a sugar spoon, with tea spoon handle. "5798, sugar, duplicate tracing,
Wedgwood."
.80 Sketch
of a bowl of a berry spoon. "5795,
table spoon handle, duplicate tracing, Wedgwood."
Folder
19:
.81 Sketch
of the bowl of a preserve spoon.
"5796, dessert spoon handle, duplicate tracing, Wedgwood."
.82 Sketch
of the bowl of a jelly spoon. "5797,
tea spoon handle, duplicate tracing, Wedgwood."
.83 Sketch
of the bowl of a serving spoon.
"5754, duplicate tracing, Wedgwood."
.84 Sketch
of the bowl of a fried oyster and tomato spoon.
"5787, dessert and tea handle, duplicate tracing, Wedgwood."
.85 Sketch
of the bowl of a spoon, with two versions shown. "5786, pie knife (plain), fried egg
(pierced), and waffle server (plain), dessert spoon handle, duplicate tracing,
Wedgwood."
Folder
20:
.86 Sketch
of a butter spreader. "5622, duplicate
tracing, Wedgwood."
The sketch of the spreader is done
on tracing paper and has been affixed to another piece of paper, on which was
drawn the blade of another kind of knife, perhaps a cheese knife.
.87 Sketch
of the bowl of an olive spoon.
.88 Sketch
of the tines of a terrapin fork.
"5794, use punch or ice cream spoon handle, duplicate tracing,
Wedgwood."
.89 Sketch
of the tines of an ice cream fork.
"5793A, use punch or ice scream spoon handle, duplicate tracing,
Wedgwood."
.90 Sketch
of the tines of an individual fish fork, small.
"5790B, tea handle, use punch of large individual fish fork, duplicate
tracing, Wedgwood."
Folder 21:
.91 Sketch
of the tines of an individual fish fork, large.
"5790A, dessert handle, duplicate tracing, Wedgwood."
.92 Sketch
of the blade of a fish knife, small.
"5751, duplicate tracing, Wedgwood."
.93 Sketch
of the tines of a sardine fork.
"5681, duplicate tracing, Wedgwood."
Also includes another
sketch labeled “top of tongs”
.94 Sketch of the bowl of an olive spoon, with
long and short handles. "5846, make
brass, duplicate." Additional note
indicates that the cutter leaves the handle too wide to join, March 28, 1911.
.95 Sketch
of the bowl of an oyster ladle, with depth indicated, “Wedgwood.”
Folder
22:
.96 Sketch
of the tines of an individual salad fork.
Note about not being able to find Osborne's original tracing dated
Folder
23:
.98 Sketch
of a border consisting of swags topped by fleur-de-lis, mounted on cardboard.
Folder
24:
.99 Sketch
of a border consisting of a pole wrapped with stylized acanthus leaves, mounted
on white cardboard.
Folder 25:
.100 Sketch
of a bread basket or embossed silver tray on one side, with sketches of a handled
cup (like a baby cup) and saucers or small trays on the reverse.
.101 Sketch
of half the body of some article, perhaps a coffee or tea pot, or a container
with a lid.
.102 Sketch
of an ornate border for a tray, with trellis work, acanthus leaves, scallop
shells, and scrolls. (see also .239)
.105 Sketch
of a handle with a plain, beveled edge.
Folder 26: handles
.106 Sketch
of a handle with a plain, beveled edge and fleur-de-lis at the top.
.107 Sketch
of handle with a beveled edge and fleur-de-lis and scroll at the top.
.108 Sketch
of a handle with a beaded edge and leaves and shell forming a scroll-like
decorative element at the top.
.109 Sketch
of a handle with stylized flowers and a shield as decorative elements.
.110 Sketch
of a handle with a squared end and decorative flowers arranged in a wreath.
Folder
27: handles:
.111 Sketch
of a handle with a squared end featuring a decorative motif of fan swags and a
shield.
.112 Sketch
of a spoon initialed and dated,
.113 Sketch
of a handle initialed and dated,
.114 Similar
to .113, but dated
Folder
28:
.117 Watercolor
of a spoon. The handle features a shield
surrounded by leaves. Initialed and
dated
.118 Wash
drawing of a spoon. Handle features
scrolls and a flat border.
.119 Sketch
of a spoon with a plain handle that has beveled edges and a fleur-de-lis. Initialed and dated September 14, 1 [i.e.
1911?]
Folder
29:
.120 Wash
drawing in blue of a souvenir spoon for the World's Columbian Exposition,
1893. Features a fair scene on the bowl,
and an ornately decorated handle with a statue of
.121 Wash
drawing in a blue for another souvenir spoon for the World's Columbian
Exposition. The bowl is decorated with a
ship, and the handle with
.122 Wash
drawing in blue of a souvenir spoon for the
.123 Spoon
identified as the Tudor Rose pattern.
The spoon handle features scrolled borders with a rose at the top. [see also .144-.145]
.124 Spoon
featuring a plain handle with a bead at the top. Initialed and dated
.125 Spoon
featuring scrolled borders with wreath of flowers, titled
"Empire." Initialed and dated
March 1914.
Folder
30:
.132 Watercolor
of a spoon, with scrolls decorating bowl and the handle with a nude woman among
trees; a god’s face looks down on the woman.
.133 Plain
spoon with beveled edge. Initialed and
dated 1915.
On back: outline of a
handle
.134 Wash
drawing of a spoon. Handle has shield
and decorative leaves as its design.
Initialed and dated
1915.
.135 Wash
drawing of a spoon. Handle has shield and
decorative leaves as its design (different design from .134).
on back: pencil sketch
of this spoon and part of a drawing of a handle
Folder 31:
.136 Wash
drawing of a spoon. Handle has shield
and decorative leaves as its design (different design from .134, but they are
similar).
Initialed and dated
1915.
.137 Ink
drawing of a spoon with highly ornate handle decorated with leaves and flowers
around an urn in a relief pattern.
Signed and dated 1908.
Folder 32:
.199 Sketchbook kept by Osborne, ca. 1910.
Consists of ink drawings
of a variety of silver objects, particularly hollowware forms, including punch
bowls, tea kettles, pitchers, and soup tureens in a variety of styles. A few items are noted as being of glass and
silver. Most of the book is blank.
Note in front (in two
different hands) reads “Returned to studio,
Folder
33:
.200-.216 Loose sketches that were originally laid in .199. A variety of silver objects along with
sketches of people that may have been used as design sources are featured.
.200 card
holder or match holder decorated with a nude woman who is kneeling;
.201 vase;
.202-.203 coffee pots;
.204-2.05 coordinated spoon and fork decorated with shells. The shells are gray, but the rest of the
spoon and fork are gold colored;.
.206 three
sketches of the ends of handles, all with various shield shapes;
.207 card
holder or match holder decorated with a nude woman kneeling on a rock;
.208 Chinese
man
.209 pitcher
with American eagle
.210 two
groups of figures standing under umbrellas
.211 sketch
of a handle; on back: remnants of other designs
.212 sketches
for a pitcher, two coffee pots, and details of designs
.213 sketch
of a coffee pot; on back: sketch of a vase
.214 sketches
of bowls
.215 sketches
of coffee pots, a candelabra, and a rough sketch of a vase; on back: designs
.216 sketches
of a vase and a ewer and a design
Folder 1:
.97 Sheet
showing a “Group of Sterling Silver Toilet Ware,” dated
Included among the toilet wares are
hair brushes, combs, clothes brushes, mirrors, curling tongs, jewelry boxes,
shoe horns, and other various items.
.103 Sketch
of a tray or plate in a square shape with scalloped corners, decorated with
scrolls and rococo leaves along the border.
.104 Sketch
of a round plate or tray with fluted edges and rococo scrolls.
Folder
2:
.151 Watercolor
sketch of a spoon with beveled edges. Initialed
and dated 1914.
.152 Watercolor
sketch of a spoon with a couple of flowers on the handle and simple scrolls on
the edges. Initialed and dated 1914.
.153 Watercolor
sketch of a spoon with a pattern identified as Elizabethan. Initialed and dated 1914.
.154 Two
spoons with decorative scrolls at the top of the handle as well as other
scrolls on the handle. Both signed and
dated
0n back: outlines of two
spoons
.155 Watercolor
of a spoon with beveled edge and floral design on the handle. Initialed and dated
Folder 3:
.156 Watercolor
of a spoon with ornate decorative handle featuring rococo flowers and acanthus
leaves. Signed.
.157 Watercolor
of a spoon with ornate decorative scrolls, flowers, and a scallop design. Signed.
.158 Watercolor
of a spoon with decorative shield design on the handle.
Initialed and dated
.159 Ink
drawing of a spoon with decorative pearl design. Signed and dated 1906.
.160 Watercolor
of a spoon with bell flowers and an ornate scrolled design. Signed and dated
Folder 4:
.161 Watercolor
of a spoon with a design featuring buds extending from a shield. Initialed and dated
.162 Ink
drawing of a spoon with decorative pearl design, similar to .159. Signed and dated 1906.
.163 Spoon
with ornate design showing a woman with a basket on her head. The top features a scroll. Signed and dated 1906.
.164 Watercolor
of a spoon with decorative leaves along the handle. Signed and dated
Folder 5:
.165 Pencil
sketch of a tray, coffee pot, sugar, and creamer.
.166 Pencil
sketch of a tea pot.
.167 Sketch
of a coffee or chocolate pot with decorative scroll design
.168 Sketch
of a coffee pot with a great deal of ornamentation.
.169 Watercolor
of a tea pot with oval shaped shield, possibly for a monogram in the center. Identified as Louis XVI style. Signed and dated 1914.
Folder
6:
.174 Watercolor of a tea pot, with some details of size of
bottom. Some elements similar to teapot
in .169.
.175 Watercolor
of a salad bowl with a "wishbone" border. Decoration features rooster heads with
wishbones underneath. Signed.
Folder 7:
.176 Shield
design drawn on Daughters of the American Revolution stationery.
.177 Shield
design featuring a Roman woman with and eagle and a view of a domed building in
the background. The date
Note: this medal was
probably a design made for the official dedication of the World’s Columbian
Exposition buildings and grounds which took place on
.178 Commemorative
coin or medal for The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, founded 1904, featuring
the bust of a man and name plate amidst acanthus leaves.
.180 Sketch
of a candlestick with a nude woman (probably a mermaid) as the base.
Folder
8:
.181 Pencil
sketch of the Annunciation: angel holding stalk of lilies kneels before the
Virgin Mary, who is holding a book.
.182 Sketch
of a woman draped in classical robes, with her arms over her face as she leans on a round jar.
Folder 1:
.115 Watercolor
of a handle featuring a shield surrounded by rococo leaves, signed and dated
Folder
2:
.116 Sketch
of a spoon, with handle partially painted in blue. Motif is ornate featuring a disc surrounded
by leaves and flowers.
Folder 3:
.141 Wash
drawing of a spoon. The edge features a
decorative pattern of stylized leaves.
No. 4050. Signed and dated 1904.
.142 Wash
drawing of a spoon with ornate decorative pattern in the Louis XIV style. No. 4049.
Signed and dated 1904.
Folder
4:
.138 Wash
drawing of a spoon with a few scrolls along the edge and a central scroll at
the top. No. 4053. Signed and dated 1904.
.139 Wash
drawing of a spoon that has a handle with an ornate design of roses and
leaves. No. 4054. Signed and dated 1904.
.140 Wash
drawing of spoon. The handle has
scrolled edges with two large intersecting scrolls at the top. No. 4051.
Signed and dated 1904.
Folder
5:
.131 Wash
drawing in blue of a spoon in the Ivy pattern.
Signed and dated
Folder
6:
.128 Wash
drawing of a spoon with a shield on the handle.
Some stylized leaves on the edge.
Signed and dated 1904.
.129 Etched
drawing of a spoon with leaves and stylized flowers (sunflowers?) decorating
the handle.
.130 Wash
drawing of a spoon with leaves forming a heavy border around the edges of the
handle. Signed.
Folder
7:
.126 Wash
drawing in blue of a spoon with scrolled edges and shell at the top of the
handle. No. 4055 Signed and dated 1904.
.127 Wash
drawing of a spoon. The handle has
fluted edges with a shell and scroll motif at the top of the handle. Signed and dated 1906.
Folder 8:
.143 Wash
drawing of a spoon labeled "New Art Sunken Cameo." The top of the handle features the head of a
person within an ornate border. No.
3043.
.144 Spoon
with pattern identified as "Tudor Rose." Signed and dated 1909.
[see also .123 and .145
below]
.145 Another
rendition of the Tudor Rose pattern.
Signed and dated 1909.
Folder 9:
.146 Spoon
with decorative pattern identified as "
.147 Spoon
featuring acanthus leaves as the decorative border of the handle.
Folder
10:
148 Spoon
featuring pattern identified as "Violet.
No. 2882. Signed and dated 1904.
Folder 11:
.149 Spoon
with design that shows a man and women sitting amidst more ornate
decorations. Identified as
"Watteau." Signed and dated
1904.
.150 Spoon
with pattern called Rose." Roses
are set amidst an ornate leaf pattern.
No. 4056. Signed and dated 1904.
Boxes
4a-4b:
.217 Sketchbook
of design sources.
Includes
pencil and ink sketches and clippings from magazines and newspapers. A number of pieces of silver flatware and
hollowware are depicted. A couple of
sketches are dated 1891-1892; a newspaper article is dated 1905. One sketch is a caricature of a man stringing
telephone or electric wires. There are a
few depictions of Native American designs
Folder 1:
.170 Full
pencil sketch of a coffee pot, with additional smaller sketches of a coffee and
tea pot. Decorated with flower and leaf
pattern.
Folder
2:
.171 Pencil
sketches of a coffee pot, sugar, creamer, and water pitcher (some details drawn
in ink)
Folder
3:
.172 Sketch
of a coffee pot, design colored in on half of the sketch; on green paper.
Folder
4:
.173 Sketch
of a coffee pot, with oval shield in the center surrounded by a leaf design. Note: "This was suggested by an Adam ‘Ex
Libris.’”
Folder
5:
.221a-b Sketches of basins and creamers with central shield and
decorative pattern. The two sheets show different, but similar, designs. Initialed and dated December 1913. (for matching pieces for .221b, see .224-.226,
.228b; .221a matches .227, .228a)
Folder
6:
.222 Sketch
of a kettle on stand, with a pattern of acanthus leaves and central
flowers. Initialed and dated
Folder
7:
.223 Partial
sketch of a 24" tray, with a note referring to the handle: “this matches
handles of set.” Shown with two design
variations (one of which matches .221a and the other .222). Initialed and dated
Folder
8:
.224 Sketch
of a kettle on stand, with decorative pattern featuring laurel leaves. Initialed and dated
Folder
9:
.225 Sketch
of a sugar bowl with engraved shield and decorative pattern. Initialed and dated
Folder
10:
.226 Wash
drawing of a tea pot with engraved shield and decorative pattern. Initialed and dated
Folder
11:
.227 Sketch
of a sugar bowl, with engraved shield in the center and decorative
pattern. Initialed and dated
Folder
12:
.228a Wash drawing of a coffee pot with engraved shield in the center.
Note: “This is an original scaled up in size – but with suggested feet.” Initialed and dated 1913. (see note about matching pieces for .221a)
.228b Watercolor of a coffee pot with engraved shield and other floral
decorations. Note: “Shaped in die.” Initialed and dated 1913. (see note about matching pieces for .221b)
Folder
13:
.229 Watercolor
of a round silver plate with lattice work edge and decoration of acanthus
leaves in a circle in the middle. Number
99696.
Folder
14:
.230 Watercolor
of a double handled urn. Handles are in
the shape of scrolls ending in the heads of females, and the design on the body
features an elaborate engraved shield with scrolled edges, leaves, and
flowers. Number A 9511. Signed and dated Feb. 1912.
Folder
15:
.231 Watercolor
of a water pitcher with elaborate engraved design, including a head or mask. Notes as to its construction are written in
pencil. Signed and dated 1912.
Folder
16:
.232 Watercolor
of a water pitcher with elaborate engraved floral pattern and scrolled
handle. Initialed. and dated Jan. 1913
Folder
17:
.233 Watercolor
of a coffee pot with a beveled handle and simple engraving.
Folder
18:
.234 Watercolor
of a water pitcher with elaborate engraving, including a head under the spout. Note: “Can leave off head if thought best but
it belongs.” Number A9504.
Folder
19:
.235 Wash
drawing labeled “Tete-a-tete set, engraved.”
Includes teapot, creamer, and sugar.
Folder
20:
.218 Watercolor
of an urn with cupids and decorative pattern in Renaissance style. Number A9509.
Folder
21:
.219 Watercolor
of a double-handled urn. A decorative
rose and leaves are featured as part of the design. Number A9510.
Includes a note about the patterns for the roses and leaves. Signed and dated 1912.
Folder
22:
.220 Watercolor
of a double-handled urn. Bunches of
grapes make up the decorative pattern.
Signed and dated Jan. 1912.
Folder
23:
.236 Watercolor
of a creamer with a note: chassed or engraved.
It features an ornate design, with a woman’s bust sticking up from the
top of the handle. No. A9505. Signed and
dated 1912.
.237 Life
size watercolor of a vase, 36" high.
Note on back: “Not selected, Jan. 1914.”
.238 wash drawing of a two-handled cup or urn,
with Renaissance decoration
.239 sketch
of a footed dish and borders for two round trays; one tray with trellis work,
scallop, and acanthus leaf design (see also .102); and the other with masks and
cornucopias
.240 engraving of an elderly bearded man, signed
G. Mercier(?)