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A Mother's Pearls

Thomas Seir Cummings American, born England
1841
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 754
The artist composed this festoon necklace from portraits of his children, nine ivory ovals linked as a necklace for his wife, Jane Cook (1806-1889). As portrayed, the children range in age from one to sixteen; the firstborn, Charles, died in 1831 and is represented posthumously in the smallest oval at center. The other children are (left to right): Lydia M. (1837-1927), George F. (1835-1910), Henry R. (1829-1873), Thomas A. (1825-1859), Rebecca C. (1827-1859), Jane E. (1831-1903), Charles P. (1833-1879), and Sarah A. (1840-1919). The Cummingses later had five more children.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: A Mother's Pearls
  • Artist: Thomas Seir Cummings (American (born England), Bath 1804–1894 Hackensack, New Jersey)
  • Date: 1841
  • Geography: Made in New York, New York, United States
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Watercolor on ivory
  • Dimensions: 17 1/2 in. (44.5 cm)
    28.148.1: 1 3/16 x 1 in. (3 x 2.6 cm)
    28.148.2: 1 3/8 x 1 3/16 in. (3.5 x 3 cm)
    28.148.3: 1 9/16 x 1 3/8 in. (4 x 3.5 cm)
    28.148.4: 1 3/4 x 1 9/16 in. (4.5 x 4 cm)
    28.148.5: 1 x 7/8 in. (2.5 x 2.2 cm)
    28.148.6: 1 3/4 x 1 9/16 in. (4.5 x 4 cm)
    28.148.7: 1 9/16 x 1 3/8 in. (4 x 3.5 cm)
    28.148.8: 1 3/8 x 1 3/16 in. (3.5 x 3 cm)
    28.148.9: 1 3/16 x 1 1/8 in. (3 x 2.8 cm)
  • Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Richard B. Hartshorne and Miss Fanny S. Cummings, 1928
  • Object Number: 28.148.1
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Portrait of a Gentleman, Thomas Seir Cummings American, born England, Watercolor on ivory, American
Portrait of a Gentleman
Thomas Seir Cummings
1825–30
Mrs. McKinley, Thomas Seir Cummings American, born England, Watercolor on ivory, American
Mrs. McKinley
Thomas Seir Cummings
ca. 1840
Mrs. Oswald John Cammann (Catherine Navarre Macomb), Thomas Seir Cummings American, born England, Watercolor on ivory, American
Mrs. Oswald John Cammann (Catherine Navarre Macomb)
Thomas Seir Cummings
ca. 1843
Maria Margaretta Oswald, Thomas Seir Cummings American, born England, Watercolor on ivory, American
Maria Margaretta Oswald
Thomas Seir Cummings
1840–50
Mrs. Thomas Streatfield Clarkson (Elizabeth Van Horne), Thomas Seir Cummings American, born England, Watercolor on ivory, American
Mrs. Thomas Streatfield Clarkson (Elizabeth Van Horne)
Thomas Seir Cummings
ca. 1844

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