Ceremonial Staff for Teobaldo "Bolgi" Travi
makerDesigned by
Joseph Lindon Smith
(Pawtucket, Rhode Island, 1863 - 1950, Dublin, New Hampshire)
Date1901-1903
Place MadeBoston, Massachusetts, United States, North America
MediumLacquered wood, brass, green and yellow silk cord with tassels
Dimensions129.5 x 17.8 cm (51 x 7 in.)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Accession numberSP2003.024
eMuseum ID716811
Textile Database Number570
EmbARK ObjectID19802
TMS Source ID6940
Last Updated8/9/24
Status
Not on viewWeb CommentaryA native of Italy, Teobaldo "Bolgi" Travi (1863-1944) immigrated to Boston and first came to the Museum to work on its construction. Isabella Stewart Gardner was impressed with the care that Bolgi handled the sculptures and architectural elements integrated into the building. Once construction was complete, she hired him to be her "majordomo," the chief supervisor of the museum's staff. The photograph shows Bolgi in his majordomo's uniform, custom designed by the artist Joseph Lindon Smith (1863-1950).
BibliographyNotes
Diana Seave Greenwald, "Bolgi: The Caretaker and Protector of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum," Inside the Collection (blog), Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 15 April 2020, https://www.gardnermuseum.org/blog/bolgi-first-caretaker
ProvenanceNotesCommissioned by Isabella Stewart Gardner from the artist Joseph Lindon Smith (1863-1950), probably between 1901 and 1903.
Gift from Isabella Stewart Gardner to Teoboldo "Bolgi" Travi for his use as majordomo of the Museum.
Gift from Travi to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum upon his retirement in 1941.
Gift from Isabella Stewart Gardner to Teoboldo "Bolgi" Travi for his use as majordomo of the Museum.
Gift from Travi to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum upon his retirement in 1941.
