Maker(s): | Pierce, Samuel (frame attributed to); Salisbury, Justin (silhouette attributed to)
| Culture: | American
| Title: | silhouette
| Date Made: | 1810-1830
| Type: | Silhouette
| Materials: | base metal: pewter, paper, ink, glass, silk fabric
| Place Made: | United States; Massachusetts; Greenfield
| Accession Number: | HD 2016.38.1
| Credit Line: | Gift of John and Helen Radavich
| Museum Collection: | Historic Deerfield
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Description: Silhouettes were the most expedient and inexpensive form of portraiture available to New Englanders in the early 19th century. Profiles were so cheap, costing about ten cents apiece, that an artist's profit was dependent on making them as quickly as possible. Born in Middletown, Connecticut, Samuel Pierce probably apprenticed in the shop of local pewterer Joseph Danforth. After completing his training, Pierce moved his family to Greenfield, Massachusetts, in 1792 or early 1793, to pursue his trade as a whitesmith at the head of navigation on the Connecticut River. Although his pewter is uncommon today, Pierce produced a wide range of forms (basins, teapots, plates, dishes, porringers, rosettes for fan lights, and baptismal bowls) over the course of his career. In addition to examples of Pierce’s pewter, Historic Deerfield also owns his account books, tools, molds, and touchmark. Framed circular silhouette of a young boy, with white cravat, pencil hair and collar, pewter frame attributed to Samuel Pierce (1767-1840) of Greenfield, Massachusetts. "Suss? Sherwin?" in very light ink on the back. Other silhouettes attributed to Salisbury and in Pierce pewter frames include HD 2016.38.2,.3 and HD1312/A
Link to share this object record: https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2016.38.1 |