Washington Winter Show 2015

VESSELS of VICTORY 42 This page is sponsored by Jean Taylor Federico I really don’t know why it is that all of us are so committed to the sea, except I think it is because in addition to the fact that the sea changes and the light changes, and ships change, it is because we all came from the sea. And it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have, in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it — we are going back from whence we came. 1 It is with these inspiring words, presented by President John F. Kennedy (1961–63) at the 1962 America’s Cup Gala dinner in Newport, Rhode Island, that we gain a better understanding as to why we, as human beings, find ourselves innately linked to the ocean. Our fascination with the sea and its exploration has been depicted in paintings, charted on maps and most beautifully interpreted in silver presentation and ceremonial objects. This essay discusses these important silver objects and references their place within our national history. As time and technology have progressed silver has retained its status as a desirable material for crafting objects of great importance. Central to this are awards created to celebrate victorious maritime- related events. Objects of silver have been presented to those who successfully defend our nation in naval battles. Through these silver presentation pieces our American history, our national identity, and our growing dominance in the world is evident. Following the American Revolution (1775–83), Presidents George Washington (1789–97) and John Adams (1797–1801) both understood that the fate of our nation’s power and absolute independence depended upon the effective defense of our by Leslie B. Jones Figure 1: Truxtun Urn , by John Robbins, London, c. 1800 (White House Historical Association). The Truxtun Urn cost an estimated £630 in 1800, which would be near $20,000 in 2014. Figure 2: Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry Trophy, c. 1818 by Thomas Fletcher and Sidney Gardiner, Philadelphia. (United States Naval Academy Museum, Annapolis, Maryland).