Peter Bentzon
Bornc. 1783
Saint Croix, Danish West Indies
Diedc. 1850
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
OccupationSilversmith

Peter Bentzon (c. 1783–c. 1850) was an American silversmith. He was one of the first known silversmiths in the United States who was of African descent. Some of Bentzon's silverwork has been identified, as he marked all his works with his initials.[1][2]

Biography

Peter Bentzon was born c. 1783 in Saint Croix in the Danish West Indies. He was born a free person of color.[3][4] Bentzon's mother was a mulatto woman, and his father was white man who was surnamed Bentzon.[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 (c. 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. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 3 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.
  5. 1 2 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.
  9. ↑ "Teapot made by Peter Bentzon". National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  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)
  12. ↑ "Pair of Teaspoons". Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  13. ↑ "Ongoing the Billy R. Allen Folk Art Collection". African American Museum Of Dallas. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  14. ↑ "Silver". Krannert Art Museum. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  15. ↑ "Metals - Spoon (Tablespoon)". Winterthur Museum. Retrieved 2021-12-15.


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