Object Description
The New York Yacht Club Regatta ewer by Tiffany won by sloop Gracie, 1872. This large sterling silver ewer, based on the ancient Greek Oenochoe form of wine jug, has a bulbous body and a hinged lid. It is applied with a coiled rope and anchor finial. The gadrooned arched handle terminates in a Neptune mask suspended from a twisted rope which encircles the shoulder. A large central garland of oak leaves, denoting triumph and victory, encloses the inscription ‘First prize for Sloops without time allowance won by Gracie, New York Yacht Club Regatta, 20th June 1872’. Marked on the base Tiffany & Co, 2192, Quality 925-1000, 4489, Union Square, M (for John C Moore & Son). American, 1872.
Height: 11½ in (29cm) Width: 8in (20cm) Depth 7in (18cm) Weight: 59.12 troy oz.
Provenance: Samuel J. Colgate, owner of Gracie, 20th of June 1872.
Gracie was built at Nyack on the Hudson river in 1868. Designed by A. G. Polhemus for William Voorhis, she had a stellar career for 42 years and won numerous regattas, private challenge cups and even races against America’s Cup contenders. Gracie entered the 1872 NYYC Regatta sloop class against Vixen, Addie and Ariadne; and won by 5 minutes, 12 seconds. In 1881 she beat both the selected defender of the America’s Cup and the challenger in a three way contest and the fact that she was never selected to compete in the Cup race itself was a source of considerable controversy in the racing world. Gracie’s owners over the years included William Voorhis, William Krebs, John R. Waller and Joseph P. Earls, in addition to Samuel Colgate. She was rebuilt in 1878, her length being increased to some 69 feet and was described by Brentano’s Aquatic Monthly and Sporting Gazetteer in the following glowing terms ‘No yacht at the present day is better known, or more appreciated, or more successful, than the sloop-yacht Gracie, which has been selected by the New York Yacht Club to carry the Rear-Commodore’s pennant for 1879’.