One of two urns from Whitemarsh Hall, a former estate in Wyndmoor, on display in the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Lenfest Hall.
A pair of large urns from Whitemarsh Hall, a former Springfield Township estate, will be deaccessioned by the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) as part of the museum's renovation and expansion plan. PMA has offered the urns to the Springfield Township Historical Society. The urns will become part of the STHS collection, and will be on long-term loan to the Springfield Township.
The Historical Society proposes to bring the urns back to Springfield Township and will host a fundraiser, “"Bring The Urns Home For The Holidays"” on Thursday, December 6, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Wheel Pump Inn,529 Bethlehem Pike, Erdenheim.
The pair of urns, which feature carved stone friezes depicting mythological scenes of Apollo and marine deities, were given to the museum by Eva Stotesbury in 1938 in memory of Edward, as part of a group of 18th century French sculpture including the Clodions and Tassaert. The urns were acquired by the Stotesburys from Joseph Duveen in 1923.
These urns are approximately, including pedestals, 9 feet 6 inches.The pedestals: 40 × 40 inches large, and weigh an estimated at 10,000-12,000 lbs. each.
STHS President Scott Kreilick met with Springfield Township manager Don Berger, to propose and review re-location of the urns on the Springfield Township Municipal Campus. It is anticipated that the Township will cover the cost of constructing the foundations.There will need to be conservation of the urns. The scope of the conservation will include cleaning, consolidation, minor repairs, repointing, and conservation oversight of the de-installation, transport, and installation. Kreilick Conservation, LLC. has offered to donate all necessary conservation services. Kreilick will also prepare a report documenting the effort. The report will include recommendations for subsequent maintenance.
The relocation expense as well as annual plantings and long-term maintenance expenses will be handled by the Springfield Township Historical Society. After bidding out the move, STHS has settled on a firm that will cost approximately $10,000. Hence the need for a fundraiser to "Bring The Urns Home For The Holidays".
“We are grateful to be partnering with BQ Basement Systems, owner of the Wheel Pump Inn,once again to host an evening of music, food, and fellowship to not only showcase the recenlty renovated historic 1700's Inn, but also raise funds to move the urns back to Springfield Township,” Kreilick said, referring to an event at the inn last spring.
The $30 per person admission covers drinks, a light buffett, and musical entertainment by the Page Brothers, a local popular duo. Guests will have an opportunity to tour the historic inn. All profits of the event will go towards moving the urns back to Springfield Township.
