Small Silver Urn Presented to Isaac Hull
This small silver presentation urn, made by New York silversmith William Gilbert, was given to Captain Isaac Hull by the Merchant Bankers of New York in honor of Hull’s naval victory over HMS Guerriere on August 19, 1812. Following the first frigate victory of the War of 1812, which gave USS Constitution the nickname “Old Ironsides,” Hull and his crew returned to much praise and adulation. This presentation piece is not only an example of superb workmanship, but also a reflection of an appreciative nation in the early 19th century.
The urn is topped with an eagle and decorated with four enamel paintings depicting Hull, USS Constitution, the battle with HMS Guerriere, and an American eagle. The inscription reads, “GIVEN BY THE MERCHANTS BANKERS OF NEW YORK AS A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION TO CAPTAIN ISAAC HULL, U.S.N./FOR HIS GALLANT VICTORY IN ACTION AT SEA – 19TH JULY 1812[sic]”.
Creator
William Gilbert
Date Created
c. 1812
Medium
Gold, Silver, Paint
Dimensions
[H]6 1/2 in. [D]4 in.
Catalog Number
2209.1
Credit Line
USS Constitution Museum Collection. The Honorable John P. Shonkwiler Bequest.
Terms of Use
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
