Shaving basin

Object/Artifact

-

Historic Hudson Valley

Name/Title

Shaving basin

Entry/Object ID

VC.64.102

Description

Shaving bowl; polychrome; indented rim (oddly narrow indentation); with slightly upturned edge; abstract landscape on rim in underglaze blue (two shades), green, iron red, black, and beige; bowl decorated with large blossoms (chrysanthemums) and butterfly in brick red, underglaze blue leaves, etc., touches (mostly worn away) of green, etc.; two small holes in rim opposite chin rest for hanging; on reverse, small sprays of blossoms (cherry-like) in red, beige, and underglaze blue.

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

Unknown

Attribution

Maker

Date made

1680 - 1700

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall

Height

2-3/4 in

Diameter

10-3/4 in

Dimension Notes

Display Dimensions: 2 3/4 x 10 3/4 in. (7 x 27.3 cm)

Material

Porcelain (hard-paste)

Condition

Notes

Remarks: Details of condition: Central decoration partly worn away from use, excepting for underglaze designs and outlines.

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

William Caldwell

Notes

Former owner

Person or Organization

Catherine Elizabeth Beck Van Cortlandt

Notes

Former owner

Person or Organization

James Stevenson Van Cortlandt

Notes

Former owner

Person or Organization

Miss Catherine Van Cortlandt Mathews

Notes

Former owner

Person or Organization

Van Cortlandt Family

Notes

Former owner

General Notes

Note Type

Curatorial Remarks

Note

Date changed from "c. 1725" to "1680 or slightly later" to reflect text of VCM guidebook and current scholarship (Jessa J. Krick, 6/14/2012). Two 19th-century documents accompany this basin. The first states: "Captain Long of Newport Rhode Island brought this Bason [sic] from China, Mrs. Story his daughter gave it to my mother at Lake George in 1812 at which time she said it was 90 years old. [signed] Wm Caldwell." The second states: "Mrs. Van Cortlandt I sent to James Stevenson Van Cortlandt a China Shaving Bason [sic] now 120 years in use. When he arrives at an age to Shave him'sel [sic] it will be about 138 years of Age. Your affesionate Uncle Wm Caldwell, Albany 7 May 1844." [Jessa Krick, 7/26/2016].

Note Type

General Note

Note

Van Cortlandt family possession

Note Type

StorageNote

Note

Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Van Cortlandt Manor, Northwest Chamber/Prophet's