MONUMENTAL PAIR OF AMERICAN CAST IRON URNS

An  exceptional pair of extremely large late 19th century  cast iron urns with tri-form griffin legs supporting a large frilled rim bowl. The base of each urn is stamped “M.A. Sweeney & Brother, Jeffersonville Indiana.”  Circa 1890 

Michael A. Sweeney founded a boat building company and foundry in 1869 producing steamboat hulls in Jeffersonvillle Indiana where a thriving steamboat building business had developed during  the first half of the 19th century. Joined by his brother James in 1876 the firm became M.A. Sweeney & Brother. In 1881 it relocated to a new facility expanding production to include structural and decorative iron and copper. The firm closed in 1938.