Peter Bentzon (silversmith)

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Peter Bentzon
Bornca. 1783
Danish West Indies (now Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Diedca. 1850
OccupationSilversmith

Peter Bentzon (ca. 1783–ca. 1850)[1] was a Danish West Indies-born American master silversmith. He is the only early-American silversmith of African-ancestry whose silverwork has been identified, he marked his works with his name.[2]

Biography[]

Peter Bentzon was born ca. 1783 in the Danish West Indies (present day Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands), as a freeman.[3][4] His mother was of mixed African and European ancestry, and his father was white.[1][5] He had fair skin complexion, which afforded him more opportunities and a larger social circle during this time.[1]

Bentzon apprenticed in silversmithing (ca. 1791) and learned his trade in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Island; and in Philadelphia.[3][5] A few years later he opened his own silver shop in Philadelphia.[3][6]

Bentzon's work can be found in public museum collections including the Philadelphia Museum of Art,[7] the National Museum of African American History and Culture,[8][9] Saint Louis Art Museum,[10] Seattle Art Museum,[11] the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation,[12] the African American Museum,[13] the Krannert Art Museum,[14] and the Winterthur Museum.[15]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Bush, Rebecca; Paul, K. Tawny (2017-05-11). Art and Public History: Approaches, Opportunities, and Challenges. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 35. ISBN 978-1-4422-6845-6.
  2. ^ Kho, Nancy Davis (2007-02-03). "Polished lives / Restorers work to keep the 'silver' in your silverware". SFGATE. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  3. ^ a b c Patton, Sharon F. (1998). African-American Art. Oxford University. Oxford University Press, African-American Art Press. pp. 41–43. ISBN 978-0-19-284213-8.
  4. ^ Smith, Synatra (July 29, 2021). "Peter Bentzon". PMA LibGuides at Philadelphia Museum of Art. Retrieved 2021-12-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ a b Chambers, Eddie; Arabindan-Kesson, Anna (2019-11-12). "6. Caribbean Absences in African American Art History". The Routledge Companion to African American Art History. Routledge. p. 80. ISBN 978-1-351-04517-9.
  6. ^ National Museum of African American History and Culture: A Souvenir Book. National Museum African American History and Culture. Smithsonian Institution. 2016-09-27. ISBN 978-1-58834-570-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. ^ "Footed Cup". philamuseum.org. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  8. ^ "Teapot made by Peter Bentzon". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2021-12-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "Teapot made by Peter Bentzon". National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian. Retrieved 2021-12-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ "Teapot". Saint Louis Art Museum. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  11. ^ "Peter Bentzon – Artists – eMuseum". Seattle Art Museum. Retrieved 2021-12-15. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "Pair of Teaspoons". Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Retrieved 2021-12-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ "Ongoing the Billy R. Allen Folk Art Collection". African American Museum Of Dallas. Retrieved 2021-12-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ "Silver". Krannert Art Museum. Retrieved 2021-12-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ "Metals - Spoon (Tablespoon)". Winterthur Museum. Retrieved 2021-12-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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