Silver-robed figure with flowing hair and gold wings holds a draping garland with one cherub on her back, holding the end of the garland while the other blows a horn.
Bottom view of sculptural silver form with mirror-like curved reflective surfaces, rounded ends, ornate swirls, and a recessed rectangular base.
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Thomas Pairpoint

Epergne

Maker

Thomas Pairpoint (American, 1838-1902), designer
Gorham Manufacturing Company (American, 1831-present), manufacturer

Title

Epergne
Furber Service

Year

1872

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Materials

gilding, reflective glass, sterling silver

Geography

Place Made: Providence; Place Made: Rhode Island

Dimensions

65 x 90 x 54.5 cm (25 9/16 x 35 7/16 x 21 7/16 inches)

Signature / Inscription / Marks

Marks: Marked: [lion] [anchor] G / STERLING / 965 / E.
Inscribed: EIF.

Credit / Object Number

Credit

The Gorham Collection. Gift of Textron Inc.

Object Number

1991.126.80

Type

Publications

Exhibition History

Gorham Silver
Designing Brilliance 1850-1970
May 03, 2019 – Dec 01, 2019
Making It In America
Oct 11, 2013 – Feb 09, 2014

Label copy

Elizabeth A. Williams, curator of decorative arts: Drawing the best of everything from around the globe, world’s fairs allowed companies to display their finest work in the hope of garnering international acclaim. It was at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia that the Gorham Manufacturing Company made its major-exposition debut with stunning works including this epergne, or table centerpiece.

Lead designer Thomas Pairpoint deftly combined motifs from the popular Renaissance Revival style, showing scenes of the Roman sea god Neptune. This monumental piece is also decorated with an adaptation of the equestrian frieze from the Greek Parthenon, as well as truly American iconography. This includes Columbia, the female personification of the United States, who reigns over all.

Joost During, silversmith: Look closely at the plaque in front and note the very subtle but beautiful texture on the skin of the four figures. The direction and depth of this texture define and enhance the shape of their bodies. As a silversmith, I love looking at work done by other metalsmiths, especially when they are as talented as those who worked at Gorham in its heyday. These were not only incredible craftsmen, but also great artists in their own right. The designers who imagined this kind of piece on paper relied heavily on the craftsmen they worked with to bring their vision to life. For me, it is very exciting to see such an excellent example of cooperation between several people with different but amazing skills.

The Furber Service

Made for Chicago businessman Henry Jewett Furber, the Neptune Epergne is one of 740 pieces of silver made to serve 24 people. Most likely the largest commission received by the Gorham Manufacturing Company, the service was produced between 1873 and 1879. Although many of the pieces were made in the Renaissance Revival style seen in the epergne, the Furber service is a visual testimony to the confidence of Gorham’s designers in freely appropriating and boldly combining styles from different eras and cultures, including those of ancient Egyptian and Japan.

After Eden
The Rise and Reform of American Art, 1840-1910
Apr 26, 1996 – Dec 29, 1996

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Public Domain This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Thomas Pairpoint (American, 1838-1902), designer
Gorham Manufacturing Company (American, 1831-present), manufacturer
Epergne; Furber Service, 1872
Silver with gilding
65 x 90 x 54.5 cm (25 9/16 x 35 7/16 x 21 7/16 inches)
The Gorham Collection. Gift of Textron Inc. 1991.126.80

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