Punch Bowl Service, Baltimore City & Baltimore County

Punch Bowl, Plateau & Ladle

Maker: Samuel Kirk & Sons (1815-1979)
Objects:  Punch Bowl, Plateau and Ladle, Baltimore City and County
Date: 1906
Medium: Sterling Silver
Dimensions: Punch bowl: Overall height, 14 ½; Overall width (eagle to eagle), 14 ½; Overall diameter,17 ½”
Dimensions: Plateau: Overall height, 5; Overall diameter, 23 3/8”
Dimensions: Overall length, 18; Overall width, 5 ¾; Width of handle, 1”
Accession number(s): MSA SC 1545-0929-1 (bowl), MSA SC 1545-0929-2 (ladle), MSA SC 1545-0929-3 (plateau)

This ceremonial punch bowl, the largest piece in the USS Maryland silver service, represents Baltimore City and Baltimore County. This exceptionally-detailed piece is supported on the plateau by four diamond-back terrapins, and is accompanied by 12 punch cups representing naval heroes from Maryland. Two large eagles with outspread wings sit with their talons gripping the rim above the Great Seal and the Cruiser Maryland. The legal origin of Baltimore County is not known, but it was in existence by January 12, 1659/60 when a writ was issued to the sheriff of the county. Its name derives from the name of the Proprietary's Barony in Ireland in the county of Longford. Baltimore City was incorporated in 1796, and separated from Baltimore County in 1851.

The Great Seal and the Cruiser are surrounded by wreaths of oak, horse chestnut and mulberry. A festoon of tobacco leaves separate each scene, while oyster shells form the border of the bowl. Nine inventions first developed or applied in Baltimore form a “border of progress” across the top of the punch bowl.

The handle of the ladle is formed from a reproduction of a “crownstone” marker of the Mason-Dixon Line. These large limestone markers were placed every five miles along the Mason-Dixon Line, and were decorated with the coats-of-arms of Maryland and Pennsylvania. This is the largest serving utensil in the silver service.

Punch bowl:
Scenes around the top (left to right):
1. Seven Stars Tavern (number 10)
2. Holliday Street Tavern (number 11)
3. First Electric Railway (number 12)
4. Great Seal of Maryland
5. The First Telegraph (number 5)
6. Peter Cooper Locomotive (number 6)
7. First Electric Railroad (number 7)

Scenes around the center (left to right):
1. Bombardment of Fort McHenry (number 2)
2. Laying out of Baltimore Town (number 4)

Scenes along the top on the reverse (left to right):
1. First Gas Street Lamp (number 13)
2. Birth of the Star Spangled Banner (number 9)
3. First Elevated Railroad (number 8)

Scenes around the center (on reverse side):
1. Baltimore in 1752 (number 1)
2. Washington Monument (number 3)

Plateau:
Scenes (left to right):
1. Baltimore Clipper “Flying Cloud” (number 16)
2. Battle Monument (number 15)
3. Congress Hall (number 17)

Scene on the reverse  (left to right):
1. First Columbus Monument (number 14)

Punch Cups

Maker: Samuel Kirk & Sons (1815-1979)
Objects:  Punch Cups, Baltimore City and County
Date: 1906
Medium: Sterling Silver
Dimensions: Overall height: 3 ½; Overall width, 4 7/8; Diameter of top, 3 ½; Diameter of base, 1¼”
Accession number(s): MSA SC 1545-0929-4~MSA SC 1545-0929-15

The USS Maryland silver service includes twelve punch cups that were intended to be used in conjunction with the Baltimore City and County punch bowl. Although only four punch cups are presently displayed on the plateau, all twelve cups can be placed on the plateau. Each cup is engraved with the name, rank, date of entry into the Navy, and death date of a different naval hero from Maryland. A preliminary design sketch signed by Henry Child Kirk, Jr. that was recently donated to the Maryland State Archives indicates the firm also considered engraving the cups with the names and images of early judges or governors of Maryland. The punch cups are the simplest form in the entire service.

Punch cups: (date of entry, death date):

Captain James Nicolson (1775-1804)
Captain John Rodgers (1798-1838)
Captain Stephen Decatur (1798-1820)
Captain Jesse Duncan Elliott (1804-1845)
Rear Admiral Thomas Crabbe (1809-1866)
Commodore Wm. Carmichael Nicholson (1812-1861)
Rear Admiral Augustus H. Kilty (1821-1870
Rear Admiral John Rodgers (1828-1869)
Rear Admiral Benjamin F. Sands (1828-1874)
Rear Admiral Edward Donelson (1835-1876)
Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley (1856-1901)
Rear Admiral Yates Stirling (1860-1905)