Antique of the Month - 1890’s Mahogany Rowing Gig Rudder
The featured antique this month is a maritime one: a rudder that was once part of an 1890’s rowing gig of the very wealthy Havemeyer family in New York City, Long Island, and Connecticut. Henry O. Havemeyer was a sugar magnate and an avid sailor. His wife, Louisine, was a leader in America’s Women’s Suffrage Movement in the early 20th century but also – perhaps more significantly – was a huge art collector. When she died in 1929, it was donated to the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. It is called the H. O. Havemeyer Collection and is the largest collection of Impressionist painting at the Met, possibly even the USA. Louisine Havemeyer was close friends with perhaps America’s greatest impressionist painter, Mary Cassatt, and it was Mary that helped Louisine select the impressionism paintings for purchase, focusing on Edgar Degas and Claude Monet with whom Cassatt was not only close friends with from her many years living and painting in France, but also exhibited her paintings with theirs.
This rudder is exactly three feet long and is made of mahogany and solid brass, with copper nails. It was used on either Long Island Sound, where the Havemeyer had a waterfront mansion named, “Hilltop,” or on the opposite side of Long Island in Islip. Here is the interesting part: given that Mary Cassatt was close friends with Louisine Havemeyer, could there have been an occasion where they sailed out in this rowing gig together? That Mary Cassatt, America’s most celebrated Impressionist painter, could have been in the boat steered by this rudder? It’s unknown…but…it’s also extremely possible!! IIn any event, this rudder has a good connection with some important American history – and now it resides here in Bay View! Hope you enjoy the photos and the notes. Yes, I have to strip off the brass tarnish. The rudder’s yoke (that goes across the top and has the ropes attached to it) is 14 inches long and is made of solid brass!
This is an authentic maritime antique. I keep it on the wall in my dining room. You can see it in person at the historic marker dedication ceremony for the Johanna Brotch House at 515 East Lincoln Avenue in Bay View to be held on Saturday, 13 July 2024. Free tours of the first floor (to include the entry foyer) of Johanna’s house follow immediately after the ceremony. Stop by for the ceremony and come to see this beautiful maritime antique in the house!
Here is lots of more information about Henry O. Havemeyer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Osborne_Havemeyer
Find her extremely interesting history here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisine_Havemeyer
Note this link at the bottom also provides a list and photos of all of the paintings she bequeathed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Mary Cassatt’s biography and history here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Cassatt
First, Some History About the Rudder’s Original Owner
Background history of the rudder Owned by Henry Osborne Havemeyer, the President of American Sugar Refining Company. Havemeyer built a mansion in 1890 on New York City’s posh Fifth Avenue whose interior was design by Louis Tiffany. Also in 1890, he built another mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut, that he named “Hilltop,” because it overlooked Long Island Sound.He would spend his summers at another home he had in Islip, Long Island, where he would often go pleasure sailing on his 30-foot sail boat named “Electra.”
This rudder came from one the rowing boats held at one of these homes, but which one is unknown. He and wife Louisine were substantial collectors of art. Louisine made 33 transatlantic crossings to purchase and bring back art for their homes. She and Henry were the earliest and major collectors of Impressionist paintings which had been up that point rejected by art critics and the art establishment, especially in France. Louisine’s close friend, famed American Impressionist artist Mary Cassatt, suggested Louisine purchase Impressionist paintings by Edgar Degas and Claude Money whom Mary had known quite well (and exhibited her paintings with) during her time living and painting in France. After Louisine’s death in 1929, nearly 2,000 items from their collection of art and antiques was donated to New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and named The H. O. Havemeyer Collection. It can be viewed there today. In addition to art collecting, Louisine was a philanthropist and a leader in the Women’s Suffrage Movement in the US.
The following information about this rudder came from the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport, Maine:
“This is a very rare mahogany rudder for a rowing gig or other type of rowing boat. Once belonging to H.O. Havemeyer (1847-1907), it was probably a racing gig or recreational pulling boat.”
Henry Osborne Havemeyer (1847-1907)
He and Louisine’s residence in Greenwich, Connecticut, in the fashionable “Palmer Hill,” neighborhood, c. 1890. It was built for him by Peabody and Stearns, one of the top architectural firms on the US East Coast.
A piece of furniture from one of his and Louisine’s homes“Havemeyer Sideboard by Potter and Stymus,” c.1875-85Rauantiques
Louisine Havemeyer: Art Collector, Philanthropist, Women’s Suffrage Movement Leader
Find her extremely interesting history here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisine_Havemeyer
Note this link at the bottom also provides a list and photos of all of the paintings she bequeathed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art Close friend, American Impressionist Artist Mary Cassatt, advised Louisine Havemeyer to buy Impressionist paintings when they were being rejected by art critics.
“Louisine Havemeyer and Her Daughter Electra,” 1885 by Artist Mary Cassat
Photo of Mary Cassatt, 1913 by Artist: Durand-Reul
Restoration
This summer I hope to strip off the dull clear lacquer covering the brass and copper nails and polish it but leave the mahogany wood as is to retain the patina. I hope to video this and post it to my YouTube channel, “Bay View: Town of Lake CAPTAINS!”
The Rudder
