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Urn

Marked by: John Scofield (first mark entered 1776; 1747–1799)
English (London)
1786–87
Object Place: Europe, London, England

Medium/Technique Silver, ivory
Dimensions H. 52 x W. 30.1 x D. 26.5 cm (20 1/2 x 11 7/8 x 10 7/16 in.)
Weight: 2,835 gm (91 0z 3 dwt)
Credit Line Bequest of Mrs. M. A. Elton
Accession Number88.291
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsSilver

DescriptionThe plain vase-shaped urn has a spool-shaped stem and rests on a square base with four curved feet. The body of the vessel is raised from sheet and has a second incurved section applied to form the neck. Around the border of this join and at the rim is a milled beaded wire and beneath, a border of bright-cut ornament. The interior has a fitting at the base for a heater, now missing. The removable cover is spool-shaped, formed in two raised pieces, with a beaded flange at the join. It is surmounted by an urn-shaped finial. The edges are decorated with a narrow band of bright-cut ornament. At the base of the body is a fluted spout, cast in sections, with a rectangular tap and a bifurcated ivory spigot. The plain box-shaped base is assembled from panels of sheet with applied cast feet with scrolled borders.
Marks On four corners under base, maker's mark IS (Grimwade 1670)(repeated on bezel of cover); lion passant (repeated on bezel cover); sovereign's head; leopard's head crowned; date letter l.
InscriptionsARMORIALS: engraved on one side, the arms of Whipple; on the other, OAW in monogram for Oliver (1774-1813) and Abigail Whipple (d.1827)
ProvenanceOliver Whipple and his wife, Abigail, of Boston, MA; by descent to their daughter Hannah, who married Frederic Allen of Portsmouth, NH; by descent to their daughter, Margaret Allen Elton; 1888, bequest of Mrs. M.A. Elton to the MFA. (Accession Date: February 14, 1888)