As more American volunteer fire fighting companies began to form during the late 18th century, a need emerged for better organized efforts in combating conflagrations. Engineers and officers would use “speaking trumpets” to amplify their voices over the noise and commotion of a fire scene to direct the company in effectively fighting the blaze. Two trumpet variants are reflected in the collection: plain and functional “working” trumpets that were actively used at fires, and highly decorated “presentation” trumpets. Presentation trumpets were awarded to firefighters in honor of their service, or between fire companies during visits, competitions, and musters.
This brass speaking trumpet was used by J.H. Tillinghast of Providence, Rhode Island during the middle of the 19th century. The trumpet is unadorned with thin molded bands where the mouthpiece and the bell attach to the shaft. The bell has a simple inscription that reads “J.H. Tillinghast/ PROVIDENCE R.I.” A cord is tied to the neck of the trumpet to form a handle. The Tillinghast family is one of the oldest in Rhode Island.
As more American volunteer fire fighting companies began to form during the late 18th century, a need emerged for better organized efforts in combating conflagrations. Engineers and officers would use “speaking trumpets” to amplify their voices over the noise and commotion of a fire scene to direct the company in effectively fighting the blaze. Two trumpet variants are reflected in the collection: plain and functional “working” trumpets that were actively used at fires, and highly decorated “presentation” trumpets. Presentation trumpets were awarded to firefighters in honor of their service, or between fire companies during visits, competitions, and musters.
This painted tin speaking trumpet was used in active duty during the early 19th century. The horn has been painted white with a red semi-circle on the horn. A black number “1” with a black circle around it has been painted on the shaft of the horn. The bell has gold painted text that reads “Fire Ward/ G.L.S./ Pawtucket/ R.I.”
Betsey’s sampler includes three distinguishing features of Rhode Island samplers; trumpeting angels with embroidered faces, queen stitch flowers, and a three-story house. Below the house, flanking flowers and birds is the verse:
“While hof[s]tile foes our coaf[s]ts Invade in all the pomp of war arrayd Ameri cans be not dismayd nor fear the f[s]word or GUn
While Innocence is all our pride and vir tue is our only Guide Women would f[s]corn to be defyd if led by WASHINGTON”
This verse on Betsy’s sampler offers a rare opportunity to discover the political thinking of a young girl during the Revolutionary War. She is showing a brave female defiance of Britain and an unwavering faith in George Washington, the commander of the Continental Army. Betsy undoubtedly was influenced by her father who was a privateer during the Revolutionary War. At the bottom of the sampler, flanked by queen stitch flowers, is a cartouche with the inscription:
“Betf[s]y Bucklin Her Work Septe mber 1781”
It is not known who the author of the inscriptions is. The sampler is stitched with silk embroidery thread on a linen ground with a thread count of warp 25, weft 23/in. The stitches used are cross, crosslet, queen, rice, straight, fly, stem, tent, and gobelin.
Betsy [Elizabeth] Bucklin was born on September 20, 1768, in Providence, Rhode Island to Capt. Daniel and Eliza Carpenter Bucklin. On November 11, 1792, Betsy married Samuel Eddy. They had three children - Martha, Jonathan, and Elizabeth. She died of consumption on October 27, 1799, in Providence, Rhode Island.
Raised bulbous baluster-shaped creamer with overall chased and repousse grapevine decoration on four cast feet of looped branches of blooming flowers. Double-domed, hinged lid is topped by a cast trumpet-shaped flower rising up from two others. Band of angular twisted branches at rim. High-loop C-curve handle and inset, short, curved spout also cast as branches or woody trunks wrapped with budding and blooming floral vines; handle is pinned into ivory insulators. Underside of rounded bottom struck above and below centerpoint with Gorham trademark of a lion passant facing left, an anchor, and the raised roman letter "G", all in clipped-corner surrounds, and "COIN" in incuse roman letters; "09071" is scratched upside-down at lower left. From a six-piece coffee and tea service, 1988.0569.01-.06.
Two-handled, raised bulbous baluster-shaped sugar bowl with overall chased and repousse grapevine decoration on four cast feet of looped branches of blooming flowers. Double-domed cover is topped by a large cast trumpet-shaped flower. Band of angular twisted branches at rim. Two horizontal bracket handles also cast as branches or woody trunks with budding and blooming flowers. Underside of rounded bottom struck above and below centerpoint with Gorham trademark of a lion passant facing left, an anchor, and the raised roman letter "G", all in clipped-corner surrounds, and "COIN" in incuse roman letters; "09071" is scratched at upper left while an illegible number and three lines of geometric shapes, faintly scratched and rubbed or worn away, are to right. Cover not marked. From a six-piece coffee and tea service, 1988.0569.01-.06.
Inverted pear-shaped tilting kettle decorated with intertwined rose branches around its shoulder and a cast rose finial on its swing-up, trumpet-shaped, circular lid; engraved "M\L/K" on one side above the circular, low-domed, ruffle-edged foot. Floral-decorated S-curve spout and hollow bail handle with bow grip and S-curve ends pinned into ivory insulators; body perforated at spout. Pairs of button knobs at sides fit onto two cast floral supports mounted to a matching, low-domed, circular stand that holds a removable, cylindrical spirit burner with long ivory-knob handle for diaphragm shutter; wire mesh beneath shutter and vent holes below top edge. Burner replaced; not original. From a six-piece coffee and tea service, 1980.0027.01-.06.
Underside of kettle struck incuse with a stylized "M" trademark, "815" above "4 P'T'S." in roman letters,"STERLING" in sans serif letters with "5.626" scratched below. Inside of lid is scratched near edge "28\10(double underlined)". Underside of interior opening of stand has four equidistant incuse marks, a stylized "M" trademark, "815", and "MARCUS & CO." and "STERLING" in sans serif letters.
Underside of burner struck incuse with Gorham trademark of lion passant facing right, an anchor, and gothic or Old English "G", all in clipped-corner outlined surrounds above "STERLING" in sans serif letters, the roman letter "P" and, at center, "PAT.APPLIED FOR" in sans serif letters.
Maker is Marcus & Co., of New York, NY; 1892-1962 (merged with Black, Starr & Frost; founded 1810-present).
Two block alphabets, one with 26 letters and one with no "J"; "V" and "U" reversed; numbers to 12. Landscape with gentleman and two ladies; gentleman wears short coat, knee breeches, and wide hat, and carries a walking stick. One lady wears flowered dress; the other wears striped dress and both wear caps or hats. Hill, tree, and flowering bush on lawn, and small leaping dog. Overhead, clouds and trumpeting angel. Border has wide free-style meandering vine with various flowers. Brown guidelines under center scene and floral border. Just below verse, five rows of staggered cross stitch cover seam where two pieces of ground fabric join. Silk embroidery thread on linen ground. STITCHES: cross, crosslet, petit point, chain, stem, outline, queen. THREAD COUNT: warp 26, weft 32/in.
Inscriptions:
"Let f[s]potlef[s]s innocence and truth My every action guide And guard my unexperienced Youth From vanity and pride
Jemima Gorham born august 28 1775 made this sampler in Bristol 1790 at Mrs. ushers School"
Background:
Jemima was born on August 29, 1775, to Isaac and Sarah Thomas Gorham in Bristol, Rhode Island. She was the oldest of nine children, and her father died at sea at the age of 48. Jemima married Nicholas Peck as his second wife on October 1, 1797, and died on November 7, 1798, in Bristol, shortly after the birth of their daughter, Jemima Gorham Peck. A year later Nicholas married his wife's sister, Sarah Gorham, on October 5, 1799.
