About this artwork
Danish-born Erik Magnussen’s early pieces for Gorham reflect the stylized vegetal and foliate motifs popularized in the United States by his countryman Georg Jensen. Nonetheless, Magnussen realized that “America demands something plainer, something vitally characteristic.” As a result, by 1926 his designs stressed simplicity, function, and opulent materials. A writer for Good Furniture Magazine acknowledged this trend: “He has developed an American style—a style that is plain, dignified, pure of line, and yet with an indefinable touch of the new, modern feeling.”
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Arts of the Americas
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Artist
- Erik Magnussen
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Title
- Covered Compote
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Place
- Providence (Object made in)
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Date
- 1926
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Medium
- Silver and ivory
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Inscriptions
- Marked on base: GORHAM [picture of lion] [picture of anchor] ["G" in calligraphy] STERLING Y F S [picture of sailboat]
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Dimensions
- 30.5 × 17.8 cm (12 3/8 × 7 in.)
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Credit Line
- Purchased with funds provided by the Antiquarian Society
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Reference Number
- 1984.1172a-b
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.
