Contributed by Tate House Museum
Description
Admiral George Tate II, son of Captain George Tate of Portland, served in the Russian Navy for 50 years and was appointed admiral in 1793.
He originally owned this fob, which descended to Ann Tate Ingraham, his niece in Portland. It depicts two hippocampi — the head of a horse combined with fluted fish tails, often winged.
This mythical marine animal was a fitting symbol for a Russian admiral.
The miniature music box enclosed in the fob reportedly plays "God Save the King." A rare luxury object, the fob might have complemented a pocket watch or used as a pendant.
About This Item
- Title: Watch fob, Portland, ca. 1800
- Creation Date: circa 1800
- Subject Date: circa 1800
-
Locations:
- Portland, Cumberland County, ME
- Russia
- Media: Gold
- Dimensions: 3.81 cm x 2.86 cm x 2.54 cm
- Local Code: 1976.1
- Object Type: Physical Object
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Jewelry--Russia
- Merchants--United States--History--18th century
- Merchants--United States--History--19th century
- Music boxes
- Mythical creatures--Hippocampus
- Tate family
- Tate House (Portland, Me.)
- Tate, Ann Ingraham--Associated objects
- Tate, George, 1700-1794--Associated objects
- Tate, George, 1700-1794--Homes and haunts--Maine--Portland
- Watch fobs
People
Other Keywords
For more information about this item, contact:
Tate House Museum1267 Westbrook Street, Portland, ME 04102
(207) 774-6177
Website
Use of this Item is not restricted by copyright and/or related rights, but the holding organization is contractually obligated to limit use. For more information, please contact the contributing organization. However, watermarked Maine Memory Network images may be used for educational purposes.
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