Pitcher, Communion

Object Name:

Pitcher, Communion

Object ID:

1958.041.01

Date:

circa 1864

Description:

Communion Pitcher. Silver. Ewer shaped with stepped pedestal base. Upper rim is molded into a spout opposite the upper handle juncture. Raised band of beading midway up body and smaller beading along rim. Handle is scrolled with multiple molded leaf accents. Portions of body decorated with a texture that loosely resembles basket weave. Many etched floral and scroll designs on body, often along edge of textured area, especially concentrated around an area of engraved text below spout. Engraved: "J.C.A. Hill / From his friends / of the / Unitarian Society / 1864". Marks: "320" and three hallmarks: a lion passant, an anchor, and a "G" each in a rectangle. Also stamped "COIN" on bottom. Hand etched with numbers, letters, and geometric shapes. These are difficult to read and resemble a mathematical formula.

Material:

Metal
Silver

Dimensions:

H-10.875 W-6.375 Dia-3.625 inches

Provenance:

Donated by the Concord, NH, Unitarian Church, where it was presumably used. Inscribed to Joseph Chaffin Appleton Hill (1821-1901), who was superintendent of the Sunday School of the Second Congregational (Unitarian) Society, Concord, 1860s. He left for San Francisco in 1864 to represent the Abbot-Downing Company there. He married Ellen Downing (1828-1917), daughter of Lewis Downing of the Abbot-Downing Company. This pitcher may have been to commemorate the end of Hill's term at the Church.

Credit Line:

Gift of the Unitarian Church of Concord

People:

Hill, Joseph C. A. (1821-1901)

Subjects:

Communion