Date: 1892
Credit Line: Gift of Anthony J. Drexel
Means of Accession: Gift
Made/Created
Artist
Thomas Pitts
Date made
1765
Place
Country
England, United Kingdom
Continent
Europe
Dimensions
Height
23-1/4 in
Width
20 in
Length
23 in
Material
Sterling silver
Interpretative Labels
Label Type
Exhibition Label
Label
This elegant silver epergne with ringing bells and pineapple finial once graced Ellen and A.J. Drexel’s dining table. Each of the dishes, from which guests would have served themselves candied fruit and nuts, bear the stag and crown Drexel family crest and are engraved with Ellen’s initials – “ERD”. The fanciful pagoda design is an example of 18 th century Chinoiserie. Chinoiserie imagined a China based upon Chinese (and Japanese) ceramics, furniture, wallpaper and textiles made specifically for export to Europe. A London silversmith, Thomas Pitts would have been aware of the 10-storey pagoda recently erected at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, designed by Sir William Chambers.
