拍品专文
These wine coolers were presented to Viscount d'Itajubá along with a matching punch bowl and pair of candelabra by the U.S. Government for his role as an arbitrator in the famous "Alabama Claims" of 1872. Following the Civil War, the United States charged Great Britain with a breach of neutrality because some Confederate warships had been built in England. The tribunal was formed in Geneva in 1871, and became known as the "Alabama Arbitration" because the best-known English-built ship was the Alabama, which destroyed a number of Union ships from 1862-1864. The tribunal found Great Britain responsible, and the United States was awarded $15.5 million as compensation. The three arbitrators--Viscount d'Itajubá of Brazil, Count Sclopis of Italy, and M. Staempfi of Switzerland--were presented with identical table garnitures designed by Tiffany & Co. for the occasion. The punch bowl of Viscount d'Itajubá's garniture was inscribed:
The United States of America
Viscount d'Itajubá
the arbitrator named by His Majesty The Emperor of Brazil
under the provisions of article I of the Treaty between the United States and her Britannic Majesty concluded at Washington May 8th 1871. As a mark of their appreciation of the dignity, learning, ability, and impartiality with which he discharged his arduous duties at Geneva.
The 1871 treaty at Washington had established the Geneva tribunal for the arbitration of this case.
Apparently no expense was spared for these massive garnitures, which can be attributed to Tiffany's master silversmith of the period, Eugene Soligny, well known for his work on the Bryant Vase of 1875 and the Comanche Cup of 1873. Soligny is known for his expertly chased relief plaques, usually with figures as on the present wine coolers. (See Frances Safford and Ruth Caccavale, "E.J. Soligny, The Chaser of the Bryant Vase," Antiques, March 1990, pp. 688-697.) Tiffany & Co. exhibited all of the garnitures at the Vienna Exposition of 1873, where they were very well received by the press. One reviewer noted "The testimonial to the Geneva arbitrators was a somewhat unusual proceeding, but one which the general voice of the nation heartily endorsed; and the feeling has been almost universal that the silver-ware manufactured for the purpose, by Tiffany, of New York, was worthy of our standing as a nation, and would reflect credit upon us wherever it went" (The Alabama Testimonials, newspaper clipping, Tiffany & Co. Archives). The garniture presented to M. Staempfi of Switzerland is now in the collection of the Museé d'Art et d'Histoire, Geneva.
[photo caption:] Woodcut showing the present wine coolers among Viscount d'Itajubá's garniture in 1873. Courtesy Tiffany & Company, 1995. Not to be published or reproduced without prior permission. No permission for commercial use will be granted except by written license agreement.
The United States of America
Viscount d'Itajubá
the arbitrator named by His Majesty The Emperor of Brazil
under the provisions of article I of the Treaty between the United States and her Britannic Majesty concluded at Washington May 8th 1871. As a mark of their appreciation of the dignity, learning, ability, and impartiality with which he discharged his arduous duties at Geneva.
The 1871 treaty at Washington had established the Geneva tribunal for the arbitration of this case.
Apparently no expense was spared for these massive garnitures, which can be attributed to Tiffany's master silversmith of the period, Eugene Soligny, well known for his work on the Bryant Vase of 1875 and the Comanche Cup of 1873. Soligny is known for his expertly chased relief plaques, usually with figures as on the present wine coolers. (See Frances Safford and Ruth Caccavale, "E.J. Soligny, The Chaser of the Bryant Vase," Antiques, March 1990, pp. 688-697.) Tiffany & Co. exhibited all of the garnitures at the Vienna Exposition of 1873, where they were very well received by the press. One reviewer noted "The testimonial to the Geneva arbitrators was a somewhat unusual proceeding, but one which the general voice of the nation heartily endorsed; and the feeling has been almost universal that the silver-ware manufactured for the purpose, by Tiffany, of New York, was worthy of our standing as a nation, and would reflect credit upon us wherever it went" (The Alabama Testimonials, newspaper clipping, Tiffany & Co. Archives). The garniture presented to M. Staempfi of Switzerland is now in the collection of the Museé d'Art et d'Histoire, Geneva.
[photo caption:] Woodcut showing the present wine coolers among Viscount d'Itajubá's garniture in 1873. Courtesy Tiffany & Company, 1995. Not to be published or reproduced without prior permission. No permission for commercial use will be granted except by written license agreement.