An American Silver "Bacchus" Punch Bowl, the Design Attributed to Eugene J. Soligny, Tiffany & Co., New York, circa 1873

the circular base raised on tall paw feet headed by lion masks, the stem applied with ribbon-tied trophies of tambourines and cymbals, the bowl mounted with two fully-modeled heads of Bacchus linked by applied grapevine on matted ground, marked on base and numbered 2879-607

John Loring, Magnificent TIffany Silver, p. 124

good condition, large scale & well modeled
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This punch bowl appears in the Tiffany archives as "Punch Bowl Head Improvisation".  The making cost of the bowl itself was $320, while the cost of the finely modeled heads was $250; the total manufacturing cost was $800.  A photo of a bowl of this model in the Tiffany archives is inscribed "371oz $1650," probably the retail price for the piece.

This model of punch bowl, with a pair of wine coolers and a pair of candelabra, formed the three garnitures presented by the United States Government to the three arbitrators in the Alabama Claims.  During the Civil War, although Britiain was officially neutral its government had allowed five warships, including the Alabama, to be built for the Confederacy.  After the war, the United States claimed direct and collateral damage.  Three arbitrators from neutral countries ordered Britain to pay reparations of $15 million - though Charles Sumner had originally demanded $2 billion or the ceding of Canada to the United States.

After the favorable ruling, the government commissioned the garnitures from TIffany & Co.  The candelabra figures, showing Ariadne, were signed by Eugene Soligny, to whom John Loring attributes the entire service.  One service was displayed at Tiffany's store in Union Square, when The Brooklyn Daily Argus reported "an artist will most conscientiously praise the exquisite workmanship.  The terminal human heads, the beading, the scroll-work, the vine-leaves and graves of the vase [punch bowl]... are certainly perfectly wrought" (Loring p. 124).

At least one of the services was displayed at the Vienna Exposition of 1873.  Today, the service given to the Brazilian representative Viscount d'Itajuba is in the Art Institute of Chicago, and that given to Swiss representative Jacques Staempfli is in the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, Geneva.  The pieces given to the Italian representative, Count Federico Sclopsis di Salerano (1798-1878), president of the Alabama commission, have not been traced.