Title: ‘A King’s Gift; The Gondorian Gravy Boat’
Artist: Gondorian artists of the Minas Tirith
Media: Ceramics (Clay and Paint)
Image Source: Samwise Gamgee, the Shire
Catalogue NO.: M-h 427
Source: Donated by Samwise Gamgee, gift from King Elessar
Sculpted by the talented artists of Gondor, this gravy boat was a gift from King Elessar to now mayor, Samwise Gamgee, as a congratulations on his election and as a thank you to the Shire for their immense help throughout the War of the Ring. It is meant to show the beauty of the Shire after the war has ended and also connect with their love of food and feasting. It depicts a painting of the central shire, including farms and homes, since the beauty of where they come from means very much to Samwise and the rest of the Hobbit population.
Copyright Information: Photograph: “Gravy boat and saucer” Medium: Ceramics. Manufacturer: William Henry Grindley. Description: This Gravy boat and saucer is titled “Sunday Morning” it was created in Staffordshire, England by W.H.Grindley. Found at a local thrift store. Original owner: Unknown. Shotographer: Kristina Simard. Source of object: Thrifted.
As we all know, one of the main features of the Hobbit population is their love of feasting and parties. This gravy boat was a perfect selection of a gift from King Elessar of Aragorn to, now mayor, Samwise Gamgee. King Elessar had a very specific vision in mind when he went to the Gondorians in Minas Tirith to begin the crafting of this gravy boat. He wanted it to be personal and also very useful for Samwise, his family, and anyone who would be hosted for dinner parties at his home. The king made sure to supervise all of the artists that helped bring his vision to life to make sure that it was perfectly executed. He made sure to have them incorporate a depiction of Hobbiton on the boat as well as the plate using oil paints. You can see from the photos above the beautiful landscape incorporating trees, farms and even some of the homes in the Shire. The piece was finally finished by the great silversmiths and King Elessar was very content with the final product. Samwise was astounded by the craftsmanship, so much so that he wanted it to be put into the museum for safekeeping after being used in his home for years. He kept it very safe and only brought it to use during very special occasions that called for special equipment. This was gifted to Samwise following the election in S.R. 1427 and was put into the museum when his 7th term ended in S.R 1476, roughly 80 years post war. This unique artifact holds a great connection between the shire and the outer world, the king has never given a gift quite like this one to any other friends he has made throughout the war. He was really inspired by Samwise and his great leadership role throughout the duration of the war and wanted to thank him in a deep and meaningful way. It signifies unity between the people of Aragorn and the Hobbits and also gratitude towards them for all of their help defeating Sauron. This gift is to remind Samwise of the great amount he contributed to the war and destroying the One Ring once and for all. Once Samwise was finished with the war and returned home, he was inspired to create a better life for the hobbits of the shire. He helped with the rebuilding and reinvention of the Shire to make it more like home to everyone inside and passing through. Samwise has always had a great love for the Shire and his people and he only wanted what is best for them. And so, he was really encouraged with this rebuilding so that he could provide a meaningful gift to the people at home. The Shire had been destroyed during the war so he knew that is what was needed to be done to really bring the Hobbits together. Samwise became a beloved role-model throughout the Shire because of the war and the leadership he took during then and while rebuilding of the shire. Hence why he was elected to be Mayor and serve as a trustworthy to the people all throughout the shire. The gravy boat is also a very functional used gift. Since the hobbits are known for their feasting the king thought what better to be gifted than something that could be enjoyed by everyone there, a communal gravy boat for dinners at the Gamgees. This way everyone who parties there can see the beauty that was brought from the Gondorians and all cherish the art. This gift serves as a reminder to the people of the Shire of the great ties that became of the war to the Aragorn people as well as everyone else they encountered and helped during the war. It helps embrace the equal love of the shire and its renowned beauty. It is an uplifting, encouraging piece with deep history that has been a small, yet significant contribution to the Mathom House Museum.