Designed by Joseph Lindon Smith (Pawtucket, Rhode Island, 1863 - 1950, Dublin, New Hampshire)
Ceremonial Staff for Teobaldo "Bolgi" Travi, 1901-1903
Lacquered wood, brass, green and yellow silk cord with tassels, 129.5 x 17.8 cm (51 x 7 in.)
This ceremonial staff has a circular brass end connected to a wooden stick ending in two tassels. The wooden staff contains crisscrossing yellow and green threads leading into the two tassels, also made of dark green and light yellow thread. The brass knob at the top of the staff has three curved lines that angle vertically down the knob and a decorative insignia composed of the intertwined letters ISG. The shaft is wooden and wrapped with green and yellow cording in a crisscrossing pattern. It ends in two tassels with the same green and yellow thread. The end of the stick is covered in brass.
Commentary
A 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).