The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-11-28
The Virginia's Silver Service.

Editor ~ The Times Dispatch.
SiT.-rhe announcement was made IN
your sunday paper that the silver service
for thu hattleshin Virginia (which was
DESIGNED and made hy a PHILADELPHIA
concern is now ON exhibition ir thie
city and as 70 Is n matter % some public
importance. ~ may rot Do unfimelv 20
-al attention 90 some q It's salient FED
lures. The service. while mss siva and
show. is. from an artistic standpoint
exceedingly defective. and can but prove
disappointing 90 the commission and the
Virginia people Tho original designs FOR
THIS service which were on exhibition
with those 81 the Virginia houses ~ the
Capitol while almost totallv devoid Of
historical devices etc were 20 say The
least. symmetrical. but the Virginia com
mission. IN their anxiety 10 have illus
frated as much Of Virginia history MS
possible. very irnocently but thoughtIesslv
consented 20 tho transfer Of designs and
subjects from the drawings Of the Wiz
eInia jewellers thus afording this Phila-
d'lphia house. which was anxious to Sc
cure the contract under any conditions
and which never designed or built
hatteShiD service. an opportunity 20 COM
pete with and secure the contract In
competition with ten Virginia houses
The result Is that by the transfer Of these
Illustrations 20 service that was not
originally designed for the proper display
~ such subjects the symmetry and
beauty ~ the service in its entirety has
been almost totally destroyed. Take FOR
example. the punch bowl. the large and
leading piece OF the service. which I'm
the original designs displayed had no
sub-base or pedestal but I'm order 10 ac-
commodate the applied medailions Of the
Virginia presidents. the makers have
adopted round ebony pedestal unor
MI. .. .
bowl this idea having been taken from
the drawings OF one OF the Virginia
jewellers who had displayed an elegantly
proportioncd oval-shaped bowl. resting
upon a solid silver plateau OF same
shape. and around which were anplie7
In relief the medallions Of the presi-
dents. <hile from the base about one
third up on the BODY OF this bowl n
fiuting or column effect was produced
thus leaving ample plain space toward
the top or rim Of bowl for the uroner
display OF the state Capitol and battle
ship; whereas tho howl contract for Is
ornamented from the top or rim with a
festoon dropping down on It's body 70
such distance as 70 leave insufficient
space for the proper display OF these
subjects
Your attention IL also directed 70 the
etchings OF the subjects upon all the
pieces many OF them being so lightly
executed az to render it dif1cuit to dis
tnguish them To the practlced eye
these defects are all too apparent. and
that this service. with its cruditv and IN
congTuity should have passed through the
hands Of three separate concerns. all Of
whom are supposed "a have some knowl-
edge 81 their business. IS rornethine very
remarkable; but 80 IS not to US surprising
that the real designers and makers are
willing that this PHILADELPHIA house
shall have all the credit that attaches TO
the production Of such a service.
II has been stated that the weight Of
this service Is $500 ounces. ana while
we all know that the day OF the wooden
nutmeg has long since passed. vet 20 may
be pertinent to Inquire II this is the
actual weight OF the service. exclusive
Of the wooden pedestals upon which some
OF the pieces unfortunately. rest. and
which. from the effects OF the dampness
OF the sea and the heat OF the vessel
must Of necessity crack crumble and
decay long before the silver service shall
have served tho purpose FOR which Il is
intended V1RGINIAN.
Richmond, Va.