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Learn MoreTiffany & Co. Ewer Presented to President Lincoln
- This ewer was presented to President Abraham Lincoln by his Washington supporters in 1861
- It was created by Edward C. Moore for Tiffany & Co. in the Etruscan Revival style
- The treasure is engraved with the Great Seal of the United States, encircled by thirty-three stars
- It was also exhibited for nearly four decades at the Smithsonian Institution
- Get complete item description here
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Item No.
32-1506
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Description
Silver Ewer Presented to President Abraham Lincoln
Tiffany & Co.
Dated 1861
This silver-gilt ewer stands as a defining artifact of American history, uniting the artistry of Tiffany & Co. with the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln. Commissioned by Lincoln’s Washington supporters and presented to him on the occasion of his first inauguration on March 4, 1861, the piece embodies the optimism, unity and resolve of a nation on the threshold of civil war.. . .
Tiffany & Co.
Dated 1861
This silver-gilt ewer stands as a defining artifact of American history, uniting the artistry of Tiffany & Co. with the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln. Commissioned by Lincoln’s Washington supporters and presented to him on the occasion of his first inauguration on March 4, 1861, the piece embodies the optimism, unity and resolve of a nation on the threshold of civil war.. . .
Read More
Silver Ewer Presented to President Abraham Lincoln
Tiffany & Co.
Dated 1861
This silver-gilt ewer stands as a defining artifact of American history, uniting the artistry of Tiffany & Co. with the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln. Commissioned by Lincoln’s Washington supporters and presented to him on the occasion of his first inauguration on March 4, 1861, the piece embodies the optimism, unity and resolve of a nation on the threshold of civil war. Engraved “To the President of the United States Abraham Lincoln from his Washington Friends March 4, 1861,” this presentation ewer represents the early flowering of Tiffany’s national prestige and the immense historical weight of Lincoln’s presidency.
The ewer’s design, attributed to Edward C. Moore, son of Tiffany master silversmith John C. Moore, exemplifies the Etruscan Revival style that defined mid-19th-century American silverwork. Gilded and elegantly proportioned, the vessel’s classical contours and engraved ornamentation convey solemn grandeur. The Great Seal of the United States, surrounded by thirty-three stars—symbolizing each state that remained in the Union—embodies an enduring ideal of unity and governance. Its refined craftsmanship and symbolic gravitas affirm Tiffany’s role in shaping America’s artistic identity during its most formative years.
For nearly four decades, this exceptional object was exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., including in a 1978 exhibition commemorating the inauguration of President Jimmy Carter. It was featured on the February 8, 1980, cover of the Journal of the American Medical Association and published in Charles H. Carpenter and Mary Grace Carpenter’s Tiffany Silver, where it is recognized as one of the most celebrated examples of presidential presentation silver.
Marked Tiffany & Co/550 Broadway/English Sterling 925-1000 with mark for J. C. Moore and Son, the ewer was likely the design of son Edward C. Moore.
13 1/2” high x 7 1/2” wide x 7” deep
Provenance:
Presented to President Abraham Lincoln, March 4, 1861
Private collection, Massachusetts
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. (on exhibition for 37 years)
Private collection, United States
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Private collection, Illinois
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Literature:
Tiffany Silver by Charles H. Carpenter and Mary Grace Carpenter, pp. 141-142
Illustrated on the cover of the Journal of the American Medical Association, February 8, 1980
Tiffany & Co.
Dated 1861
This silver-gilt ewer stands as a defining artifact of American history, uniting the artistry of Tiffany & Co. with the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln. Commissioned by Lincoln’s Washington supporters and presented to him on the occasion of his first inauguration on March 4, 1861, the piece embodies the optimism, unity and resolve of a nation on the threshold of civil war. Engraved “To the President of the United States Abraham Lincoln from his Washington Friends March 4, 1861,” this presentation ewer represents the early flowering of Tiffany’s national prestige and the immense historical weight of Lincoln’s presidency.
The ewer’s design, attributed to Edward C. Moore, son of Tiffany master silversmith John C. Moore, exemplifies the Etruscan Revival style that defined mid-19th-century American silverwork. Gilded and elegantly proportioned, the vessel’s classical contours and engraved ornamentation convey solemn grandeur. The Great Seal of the United States, surrounded by thirty-three stars—symbolizing each state that remained in the Union—embodies an enduring ideal of unity and governance. Its refined craftsmanship and symbolic gravitas affirm Tiffany’s role in shaping America’s artistic identity during its most formative years.
For nearly four decades, this exceptional object was exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., including in a 1978 exhibition commemorating the inauguration of President Jimmy Carter. It was featured on the February 8, 1980, cover of the Journal of the American Medical Association and published in Charles H. Carpenter and Mary Grace Carpenter’s Tiffany Silver, where it is recognized as one of the most celebrated examples of presidential presentation silver.
Marked Tiffany & Co/550 Broadway/English Sterling 925-1000 with mark for J. C. Moore and Son, the ewer was likely the design of son Edward C. Moore.
13 1/2” high x 7 1/2” wide x 7” deep
Provenance:
Presented to President Abraham Lincoln, March 4, 1861
Private collection, Massachusetts
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. (on exhibition for 37 years)
Private collection, United States
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Private collection, Illinois
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Literature:
Tiffany Silver by Charles H. Carpenter and Mary Grace Carpenter, pp. 141-142
Illustrated on the cover of the Journal of the American Medical Association, February 8, 1980
Read Less
Specifications
| Maker: | Tiffany & Co. |
| Period: | 19th Century |
| Origin: | America |
| Type: | Trophies/Presentation Pieces |
| Depth: | 7.0 in. (17.78 cm) |
| Width: | 7.5 in. (19.05 cm) |
| Height: | 13.5 in. (34.29 cm) |
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Buy with Confidence
At M.S. Rau, we are committed to building a long-term, rewarding relationship with each and every client. That’s why your purchase is backed by our 125% guarantee.
Learn More
