Dish, Ormolu-mounted

On December 27, 1888, the Senate pages (from the 50th Congress, 2nd Session) presented this porcelain dish to "Capt. and Mrs. Bassett" in honor of their Golden (50th) wedding anniversary. Isaac Bassett, a longtime Senate employee, married Adeline Virginia Hurdle on December 27, 1838.

Isaac Bassett began his Senate career in December 1831 at the age of 12, when he was appointed by Senator Daniel Webster to serve as a page. Later promoted to messenger and then assistant doorkeeper, Bassett worked in the Senate Chamber until his death in 1895. He was deeply esteemed by senators and fellow employees alike for his discreet, faithful, and dedicated service.

The rectangular porcelain dish features a central hand-painted image of a young man and woman in a garden. The outer rim of the dish has two floral hand-painted panels on a celestial blue background. The dish is mounted in an ormolu (gilt bronze) frame with twin scroll handles and raised on four foliate scroll feet. Handed down through the family, the dish was given to the Senate in 1989 by Anjanette Vail Van Horn (great-great-granddaughter of Isaac Bassett).