Brooklyn Museum: Decorative Arts: Sugar Bowl

Sugar Bowl

Maker: James W. Tufts, 1875-ca. 1914
Medium: Silver-plate on white metal
Place Made: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Dates: ca. 1880
Dimensions: 4 x 5 1/4 x 3 3/8 in. (10.2 x 13.3 x 8.6cm)
Markings: Impressed on bottom: "JAMES W. TUFTS / BOSTON / [four-pointed star enclosing 'T'] / WARRENTED / TRIPLE PLATE / 1900."
Signature: no signature
Inscriptions: no inscriptions
Collections: Decorative Arts
Museum Location: This item is on view in American Identities: A New Look, 5th floor
Accession Number: 1990.39.3a-b
Credit Line: Purchased with funds given by Roy Zuckerberg
Image: Group, 1990.39.1_1990.39.2_1990.39.3a-b.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2005

Catalogue Description: Sugar bowl (a) and lid (b) (en suite with teapot and creamer 1990.39.1-.2), silver-plate on white metal. Body (a) is in the shape of truncated pyramid with square base; two D-shaped, angular, faux bamboo handles and flat, square detachable lid (b) with a finial in the shape of a cube, on point, resting on a short tapered base. Each face of the pyramid and the lid is densely engraved. At the top of the pyramid is a double band with interlocking chevrons in lower part, interlocking semi-palmettes in upper. At base of pyramid is another band of alternating demi-lunes and chevrons on front and rear of body and alternating half-fans on two ends. On front face of body a diagonal reserve runs from lower left to upper right with the hooped handle of a basket looped over it. Basket depends into right section over vermicullae ground; foliage in lower right corner. In upper left is a bird perched on a branch with blossom, on vermicullae ground. On rear face of body, diagonal reserve runs from lower left to upper right. Above are bamboo shoots on vermicullae ground; below is a game bird on vermicullae ground, standing in marsh with semi-fan shape at lower right. On face behind left handle a diagonal reserve runs from lower left to upper right and a diagonal band with cross bandings intersects this at upper handle juncture and runs to lower right edge. Pointed oval lozenge overlaps at the intersection and is filled with a stalk and blossoms. In area to upper right is a ground of overlapping semi-discs. To the left of the handle on vermicullae ground are two long-tailed birds, back to back, foliage in lower left corner. On face behind right handle, diagonal reserve runs from lower left to upper right. To the left is a branching vine on vermicullae ground, with foliage. On lid, a diagonal band runs from corner to corner under the finial and filled with discs with stylized blossoms on articulated ground. The band runs over a central checkerboard square, which is bordered, by a detached band of scroll pattern. Condition: Finial slightly depressed. Plate slightly worn in places, especially on bottom, handles.

Collections: Decorative Arts: Sugar Bowl