Bucket, Fire
- Object Name:
- Bucket, Fire
- Object ID:
- 1947.007.15
- Place of Origin:
- Portsmouth, NH
- Date:
- 1835
- Description:
- Fire bucket. Owned by William A. Vaughan, Portsmouth, NH. Leather and iron. Cylindrical body of sewn construction, tapering from rolled rim to base. Strap handle of leather fastened at ends to iron rings, which are in turn secured by leather loops sewn into the bucket's rim. Outer surface painted red with a black band at rim and base; handle also painted black. Painted design on face shows large eagle perched above shield and holding in its claws a banner inscribed "No 1 / ALWAYS READY / 1835". Shield is outlined with orange and yellow bands and enclosed trophies of painter's equipment against a green background. Sprays of foliage flanking lower half of shield. "WILLAM A. VAUGHAN." painted at top within rectangle. All lettering is upper case in black against yellow ground. Paint crazed. In the shield is an artist's palette with thumb hole and six little patches of color. Above it in center is an artist's knife and to left and above are three brushes with bristles pointing down. To right is a straight knife. Under palette is a flat white surface with object on it.
- Material:
- Leather
Metal - Dimensions:
- H-11.7 W-8.2 D-8.4 inches
- Provenance:
- William A. Vaughan was a painter and glazier of Portsmouth, NH, and was the donor's grandfather. Between 1834 and 1839, he moved to the Lt.-Gov. John Wentworth House on Manning Street, where the fire bucket was probably used.
- Credit Line:
- Bequest of Bertha Vaughan
- Subjects:
- Eagle, Shields, Palettes, Artists' materials, Fire fighting equipment
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