Cloak pin (Knob or tieback)

Museum Object Number 1962.0094.001

Object Name

Cloak pin (Knob or tieback)

Title

JEFFERSON

Category

Metals

Credit Line/Donor

Museum purchase

Creator (Role)

Nathaniel Marchant and Lewis Pingo (Designer and engraver)

Lewis Pingo (Designer)

Nathaniel Marchant (Designer)

Matthew Boulton (Probable maker)

Creator Notes

See individual entries for biographical information.

Date of Birth

174317391728

Date of Death

183018161809

Place of Origin

Birmingham, West Midlands, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Date

1805-1809

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Mark; Front, lower right; "M.&.P.F." stamped in raised capitals.
2. Inscription; Front, lower right; "JEFFERSON" stamped in raised capitals.

Subjects

Portrait; Jefferson, Thomas

Materials

Brass; Sheet iron; Iron

Techniques

Die-stamped

Dimensions (inches)

2.874 (D) , 2.126 (Diam)

Dimensions (centimeters)

7.3 (D) , 5.4 (Diam)

Object Description

Web - 03/25/2016

This brass cloak pin features a profile portrait of the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. The image is in low relief and beneath his left shoulder are letters indicating the names of the designers and die-engravers "M.&P.F." above the larger letters identifying the subject "JEFFERSON." The style of this small, useful brass hardware item is in the manner of contemporary commemorative medals featuring national heroes, such as Jefferson and George Washington or in England, Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson. The designers were engravers for the Royal Mint in London and it is likely that their iron die portraying Jefferson was transferred to Matthew Boulton's Soho manufactory for stamped production into brass curtain tie-backs, cloak pins, looking glass knobs, and small circular boxes lids for the American market. The underside of the brass sufrace has a sheet iron backing and the brass shaft terminates in a flared circular base mounted with an iron wood screw.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Fennimore, Donald L. 1996 Metalwork in Early America: Copper and Its Alloys from the Winterthur Collection.
• Published: cat. 264, p.383