for the 200th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party

State Street Bank Headquarters, Quincy, MA

The Square Rigger sculpture by John Vassar House for the State Street Bank celebrates the political protest that took place on Dec. 16, 1773. On such occasion 3 ships (square riggers for the shape of their sails) carrying cargoes of the of the East India Company were assaulted when moored in Boston Harbor and their tea crates thrown into the waters.

The upward progression of the sails goes hand in hand with the following historical events leading to the American independence. This can be noticed by evolution of coin reliefs and edges giving texture to the sails. The most important coin relief being the Indian Head cent.The Square Rigger contains symbols and forms of two previous sculptures of the same artist titled the “Vertical Phalanx” and the “Boston Tea Party cubes”. The Square Rigger is the last Phalanx style sculpture by John Vassar House and was created as a model ready for enlargement.

In sequence: Square Rigger height proposals; Vertical Phalanx year 1973; Boston Tea Party versions with four and five sinking cubes.