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Lincoln inkwell; a gift from Charles D. Proston.

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Lincoln inkwell; a gift from Charles D. Proston.

description

Summary

A gift from Mary Lincoln Isham to the Library of Congress in 1937.
Made of sterling silver from Poston's mine. Impressed or otherwise affixed on the inkwell: Abraham Lincoln. Charles D. Posten, Arizona 1865. Ditat Deus. E Pluribus Unum.
The inkwell is sculptural with three figures atop an architectural base with ball in claw feet. The central figure (Columbia, dressed in toga with sword, wreath and shield) is attached to a handbell which is removable from the base. The side figures depict a seated Indian (right) and a seated frontiersman (left). At the four corners are lamp-like architectural ornaments. Each is numbered below the base and under each ornament (visible when dismantled). They may have been intended to hold pens. The front of the base is engraved with "Abraham Lincoln" and the back "From Charles D. Posten Arizona 1865." In the front around the circular center ring is a relief: "E Pluribus Unum: surrounded by an incised line. On the ring below this is engraved "ditat deus". The inkwell is composed of many parts which are removable from the base. The appendages are held by screws. Behind the front and back engraved name plates are compartments. The front one has two holes accessible from the top and would seem to be for dipping into ink. Each hole has a small saucer dish which is easily removable. The drawer in the back has a lid (removable), and may have been used for extra pen nibs or possibly sand. Each drawer is held in place by a small lever.
Charles Debrill Poston (April 20, 1825- June 24, 1902), explorer and author, delegate from Arizona Territory to Congress, was born in Hardon County, Kentucky. N Washington he directed his attention to gaining a territorial organization for Arizona, and when the Territory of Arizona was created, he returned to the Southwest late in 1863 as superintendent of Indian affairs. Accompanied by J. Ross Browne [q.v.] he traveled through the Apache country, visiting the different tribes and at the same time gaining the support that elected him first delegate to Congress from Arizona. He served from Dec. 5, 1864, to Mar. 3, 1865, and advocated the building of irrigation works on the ground that they would aid the reservation tribes to becoming self-supporting (The Speech of Charles D. Poston .. On Indian Affairs in the House of Representatives .. Mar. 2, 1865). He obtained a congressional appropriation for the promotion of irrigation. By his defeat for reelection in 1864, his political career was closed.

In 1837 Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young founded Tiffany & Company in Brooklyn, Connecticut, as a "stationery and fancy goods emporium". Charles Tiffany's father who financed the store with only $1,000. Charles Lewis Tiffany along with his friend John B. Young established the jewelry company Tiffany in 1837 as Tiffany, Young and Ellis. They settled in Manhattan selling imported high-class glassware, silverware jewelry, and porcelain. Unlike other stores at the time, Tiffany clearly marked the prices on its goods, only accepted cash payments, and did not allow purchases on credit. The first Tiffany mail order catalog, known as the "Blue Book", was published in 1845, and publishing of the catalog continues it to this day. The company began designing its own jewelry in the 1850s, relocating to Fifth Avenue and opening branches in Paris and London. Tiffany adopted the British silver standards, establishing the term "sterling" in the US. Charles Comfort Tiffany succeeded his father as director and led the company to become one of the leading proponents of the Art Nouveau style and shortened the name to Tiffany & Company, changed emphasis on jewelry in 1853. In 1862 Tiffany supplied the Union Army with swords (Model 1840 Cavalry Saber), flags, and surgical implements. In 1870, the company built a new store building at 15 Union Square West, Manhattan, designed by John Kellum. It was described by The New York Times as a "palace of jewels". In 1956, legendary designer Jean Schlumberger joined Tiffany, and Andy Warhol collaborated with the company to create Tiffany holiday cards (circa 1956–1962).

date_range

Date

01/01/1865
person

Contributors

Tiffany (Creator)
place

Location

create

Source

Library of Congress
copyright

Copyright info

Public Domain

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