Syng inkstand
Encyclopedia
The Syng inkstand is a silver inkstand
used during the signing of both the United States Declaration of Independence
in 1776 and the United States Constitution
in 1787. Aside from paper documents, it is one of only four physical objects that were present during the Constitutional Convention
known to still exist (with a reasonable degree of certainty), along with Independence Hall itself, the Liberty Bell
, and the chair George Washington
sat in as the convention's presiding officer. It is thus both a work of art and an important artifact from American history, having been used by such prominent founding fathers as Washington, Benjamin Franklin
, Thomas Jefferson
, John Hancock
, and James Madison
.
Inkstands were made to hold ink for quill pens and other implements that required an external source of ink. They were made to be placed on desks, and ornate versions of them included a sander (similar to a salt or pepper shaker, to sprinkle sand to dry written ink rapidly), a place for the pen, and a candle to melt sealing wax, and may be decorated in various artistic styles. The Synge stand shows, from left to right, a sander, quill holder, and inkpot, and is decorated in late Rococo
style.
The Syng inkstand was made by Philip Syng
in 1752 for the provincial assembly of Pennsylvania. Syng had immigrated to the United States from Ireland in 1713, and was a renowned silversmith
. He created fine works in silver
and sometimes gold
for the rich families of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. Syng was also an associate of Benjamin Franklin
and was a prominent member of the Philadelphia community. He assisted in the founding of the Library Company of Philadelphia
, the American Philosophical Society
, the Union Fire Company
, and the University of Pennsylvania
.
The inkstand became the property of the state of Pennsylvania, and was moved soon after the Constitutional Convention ended, to the state capital in Harrisburg
. On the first centennial
of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1876, the inkstand was returned to the City of Philadelphia where it became famous. For a time, it was displayed in Independence Hall itself on a desk in front of Washington's chair. There, it was considered to be such an important artifact that in 1922, when cracks in the plaster ceiling of the hall stoked fears that the building would collapse, it was removed at the same time that the first floor of the building was cleared of visitors. The National Park Service inherited the inkstand when they took over maintenance of Independence Hall from the City of Philadelphia. It is presently on display in a special case in Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia along with copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Inkstand
An inkstand is a stand or tray used to house writing instruments, with a tightly-capped inkwell and a sand shaker for rapid drying. A penwiper would often be included, and from the mid-nineteenth century, a compartment for steel nibs, which replaced quill pens...
used during the signing of both the United States Declaration of Independence
United States Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
in 1776 and the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
in 1787. Aside from paper documents, it is one of only four physical objects that were present during the Constitutional Convention
Philadelphia Convention
The Constitutional Convention took place from May 14 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to address problems in governing the United States of America, which had been operating under the Articles of Confederation following independence from...
known to still exist (with a reasonable degree of certainty), along with Independence Hall itself, the Liberty Bell
Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell is an iconic symbol of American Independence, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Formerly placed in the steeple of the Pennsylvania State House , the bell was commissioned from the London firm of Lester and Pack in 1752, and was cast with the lettering "Proclaim LIBERTY...
, and the chair George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
sat in as the convention's presiding officer. It is thus both a work of art and an important artifact from American history, having been used by such prominent founding fathers as Washington, Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
, Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
, John Hancock
John Hancock
John Hancock was a merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts...
, and James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
.
Inkstands were made to hold ink for quill pens and other implements that required an external source of ink. They were made to be placed on desks, and ornate versions of them included a sander (similar to a salt or pepper shaker, to sprinkle sand to dry written ink rapidly), a place for the pen, and a candle to melt sealing wax, and may be decorated in various artistic styles. The Synge stand shows, from left to right, a sander, quill holder, and inkpot, and is decorated in late Rococo
Rococo
Rococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
style.
The Syng inkstand was made by Philip Syng
Philip Syng
Philip Syng was, like his namesake father, a renowned silversmith who created fine works in silver and sometimes gold for the rich families of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He also created the Syng inkstand, which was used to sign the United States Declaration of Independence.He was a member of...
in 1752 for the provincial assembly of Pennsylvania. Syng had immigrated to the United States from Ireland in 1713, and was a renowned silversmith
Silversmith
A silversmith is a craftsperson who makes objects from silver or gold. The terms 'silversmith' and 'goldsmith' are not synonyms as the techniques, training, history, and guilds are or were largely the same but the end product varies greatly as does the scale of objects created.Silversmithing is the...
. He created fine works in silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
and sometimes gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
for the rich families of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. Syng was also an associate of Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
and was a prominent member of the Philadelphia community. He assisted in the founding of the Library Company of Philadelphia
Library Company of Philadelphia
The Library Company of Philadelphia is a non-profit organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded by Benjamin Franklin as a library, the Library Company of Philadelphia has accumulated one of the most significant collections of historically valuable manuscripts and printed material in...
, the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
, the Union Fire Company
Union Fire Company
Union Fire Company, sometimes called Benjamin Franklin's Bucket Brigade, was a volunteer fire department formed in Philadelphia in 1736 with the assistance of Benjamin Franklin. The first fire fighting organization in Philadelphia, though followed within the year by the Fellowship Fire Company...
, and the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
.
The inkstand became the property of the state of Pennsylvania, and was moved soon after the Constitutional Convention ended, to the state capital in Harrisburg
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
. On the first centennial
Centennial Exposition
The Centennial International Exhibition of 1876, the first official World's Fair in the United States, was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 10 to November 10, 1876, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. It was officially...
of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1876, the inkstand was returned to the City of Philadelphia where it became famous. For a time, it was displayed in Independence Hall itself on a desk in front of Washington's chair. There, it was considered to be such an important artifact that in 1922, when cracks in the plaster ceiling of the hall stoked fears that the building would collapse, it was removed at the same time that the first floor of the building was cleared of visitors. The National Park Service inherited the inkstand when they took over maintenance of Independence Hall from the City of Philadelphia. It is presently on display in a special case in Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia along with copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.