Creampot

1790–1800
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 704
In the years following the American Revolution silversmiths favored such classical shapes as the covered urn and the inverted helmet, here represented by this creampot and its matched sugar bowl (23.80.23a, b). Each of these objects is finely engraved below its beaded lip with bright­cut geometric borders and wrigglework and on its body with floral festoons and a bow­tied shield­shaped medallion engraved with an interlaced monogram. The bow­tied ribbons are particularly distinctive, their twists and turns carefully shaded and their ends precisely frayed. Although only the creampot is marked, the ornamental beading and identical bright­cut engraving confirm that they were intended as mates. The original owner of this creampot is not known.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Creampot
  • Maker: William W. Gilbert (1746–1832)
  • Date: 1790–1800
  • Geography: Made in New York, New York, United States
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Silver
  • Dimensions: Overall: 6 1/2 x 4 5/16 in. (16.5 x 11 cm); 4 oz. 16 dwt. (148.6 g)
    Foot: Diam. 2 7/16 in. (6.2 cm)
  • Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William A. Moore, 1923
  • Object Number: 23.80.20
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

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