Demijohn
1830–55
Medium
Pewter
Dimensions
H. 10 5/8 in. (27 cm)
Classification
Bottle
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. J. Insley Blair, in memory of her husband, 1941
Accession Number
41.34.14
Art Historical Context
**Demijohn** *James Harvey Putnam, 183–55* Pewter, H. 10 5/8 in. (27 cm) Step into the craftsmanship of early 19th-century America James Harvey Putnam's *Demijohn*, a pewter vessel from the Museum of Art's American Wing. Crafted between 1830 and 1855, this modestly scaled piece—standing just over 10 inches tall—okes the utilitarian elegance of the antebellum era. Demijohns were essential for storing and transporting liquids like wine, oil, or spirits, and Putnam's rendition in gleaming pewter transforms a everyday form into a testament to American ingenuity. Pewter, a malleable alloy p...