Vegetable Dish, Talbot County

Maker: Samuel Kirk & Sons (1815-1979)
Object(s): Vegetable Dish, Talbot County
Date: 1906
Medium: Sterling Silver
Dimensions: Overall height, 8 5/8, Overall width, 12 7/8, Overall depth, 6”
Accession number: MSA SC 1545-0937-1

Talbot and Washington Counties are represented by covered vegetable dishes that depict historic events and sites from each county. Washington County was created from Frederick County in 1776, and was named for George Washington (1732-1799). It was the first Maryland county formed after the Declaration of Independence.

The Great Seal and the Cruiser are each surrounded by sprays of chestnut, pine and oak leaves, and inverted cornucopias form the handles of the dish. The upper portion of the dish is decorated by four scenes of 18th century landmarks in Washington County. A festoon of tobacco leaves separate each scene, while oyster shells form the border of the bowl. The engraved scenes on the top are separated by sprays of mulberry, and an eagle with upraised wings sits atop the lid.

Scenes on dish (top to bottom, left to right):
1. Wagon Bridge, Chesapeake City OR Chesapeake and Delaware Canal (number 111)
2. Maryland Pivot Bridge (number 112)
3. Friends Meeting House (number 107)
4. Great Seal of Maryland
5. The Anchorage (number 108)

Visible scene on lid:
1. Graveyard at Wye House (number 116)

Scenes on the reverse (top to bottom, left to right):
1. Basin at Chesapeake City (number 114)
2. View of Chesapeake City  (number 113)
3. Old Wye House (number 109)
4. USS Maryland Cruiser
5. St. John’s Church (number 110)

Scene on back of lid:
1. Wye House (number 115)