Bucket, Fire

Object Name:

Bucket, Fire

Date:

1835

Material:

Leather
Metal

Dimensions:

H-11.7 W-8.2 D-8.4 inches

Description:

Fire bucket. Owned by William A. Vaughan, Portsmouth, NH. Leather and iron. Cylindrical body of sewn construction, tapering from rolled rim to base. Strap handle of leather fastened at ends to iron rings, which are in turn secured by leather loops sewn into the bucket's rim. Outer surface painted red with a black band at rim and base; handle also painted black. Painted design on face shows large eagle perched above shield and holding in its claws a banner inscribed "No 1 / ALWAYS READY / 1835". Shield is outlined with orange and yellow bands and enclosed trophies of painter's equipment against a green background. Sprays of foliage flanking lower half of shield. "WILLAM A. VAUGHAN." painted at top within rectangle. All lettering is upper case in black against yellow ground. Paint crazed. In the shield is an artist's palette with thumb hole and six little patches of color. Above it in center is an artist's knife and to left and above are three brushes with bristles pointing down. To right is a straight knife. Under palette is a flat white surface with object on it.

Provenance:

William A. Vaughan was a painter and glazier of Portsmouth, NH, and was the donor's grandfather. Between 1834 and 1839, he moved to the Lt.-Gov. John Wentworth House on Manning Street, where the fire bucket was probably used.

Subjects:

Eagle, Shields, Palettes, Artists' materials, Fire fighting equipment

People:

Vaughan, William A. (1798-1883), Vaughan, Bertha (1873-1946)

Place of Origin:

Portsmouth, NH

Collection Name:

Inventory

Item Number:

1947.007.15

Accession Number:

1947.007

Type of Material:

Objects

Copyright Statement:

For information regarding copyright, permissions, and reproductions contact the New Hampshire Historical Society

Credit Line:

Bequest of Bertha Vaughan

Participating Organization:

New Hampshire Historical Society