Plate

Status

Not on view

Label Text

The attractive reflective surface, durability, and affordability of pewter tablewares made them a mainstay in middling and upper class households throughout the eighteenth century. This plate is one of an extensive set of pewter owned by the Hopper family of Bergen County, New Jersey. During the Revolutionary War, George Washington frequently made his headquarters at the Andrew Hopper home, which was situated on a critical route from New York to Pennsylvania. In addition to providing shelter and meeting space to Washington and his staff, the Hopper family may have also served them meals on this pewter service, likely the most elegant goods at their disposal.

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Datec. 1770-1793

Maker Robert Bush & Co. (English, 1770 - 1793)

Geography Manufactured - England

Medium/TechniquePewter

DimensionsOverall: 5/8 in. x 9 in. x 9 in. (1.6 cm x 22.86 cm x 22.86 cm)

Credit LineGift of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph E. Fields, 1999

Object numberW-3945/9

DescriptionPewter plate with shallow well; single beaded edge; hammered bouge.
Published ReferencesJoan Dater, "Andrew Hopper Revisited: George Washington's Stays at the Andrew Hopper House during the Revolutionary War" (paper presented at the Hermitage, Ho-ho-kus, New Jersey, November 30, 1995), 25-29 and accompanying plates.

Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., "Historic Eighteenth Century English Pewter Camp Service Formerly Owned by George Washington," in Early American Furniture and Paintings, Silver, Decorations, . . . Public Auction Sale January 11 and 12 at 2 P.M. (New York: Parke-Bernet Galleries, 1950), Lot 247.

Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., "Historic Eighteenth Century English Pewter Camp Service Formerly Owned by George Washington," in The Erskine Hewitt Collection/ Fine Early American Miniatures and Paintings, Rare Historical Bibelots and Decorations/ Autographs, Original Drawings, and Prints/ Marble Busts of Franklin, Washington/Hamilton, and John Marshall/ English, American and French/XVIII and Early XIX Century Furniture/Georgrian Silver/Porcelains/Rugs/ A Magnificent Brussels XVIII Century Teniers Tapestry/ 'The Kermese'/ Public Sale October 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22 . . ., Sales Catalogue No. 53 (New York: Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., 1938), Lot 1115.

Centennial Celebration of the Inauguration of George Washington as First President of the United States. Committee on Art and Exhibition, Catalogue of the Loan Collection of Portraits, Relics, and Silverware Exhibited at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, April 17th to May 8th, 1889 (New York: Trow's Printing and Bookbinding Company, 1889), #352, 82.

Elizabeth Oakes Smith, The Salamander: A Legend for Christmas (New York: George P. Putnam, 1848), 14.

MarkingsOn the underside of the well, near the top are three marks: Touchmark of cipher "RB" with crest of a goat's head couped on a wreath bar above within an outlined vertical oval. On the underside of the well, in a line, are four pseudo hallmarks: "B&Co" within a rectangle with outlined and beaded upper and lower borders; Britannia within a rectangle; lion's head erased; rose within rectangle with canted corners.

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