All That Glitters

All That Glitters: Silver and Gold at Vanderbilt

A Congressional Gold Medal, a miniature house crafted in 24-karat gold, and a solid gold intricately engraved cigar case were given to Cornelius Vanderbilt, the Commodore and founder of Vanderbilt University by the United States government, his wife Sophia, and a grateful stockholder. Other artifacts that have come to the libraries from the Vanderbilt family are historic and hallmarked sterling silver serving pieces made by silversmiths of the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries.

It is not often that these rare items are exhibited, but in a year of sesquicentennial celebrations, we are delighted to put on display unique and historic artifacts of silver and gold that have been entrusted to the Vanderbilt libraries.

View the exhibit in person in the Special Collections at 1101 19th Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212-2109 or online.