Ball-and-spear or "steeple-top" andiron with hexagonal pedestal on circular base atop spurred cabriole legs ending in creased snake feet on platforms; brass strip on top of billet bar extends to matching log-stop (missing). Two-part upright, both parts hollow cast and vertically seamed . Hollow-cast legs are unfinished on back. All parts held together by an internal iron rod threaded at top and peened at bottom. Brass strip stamped incuse at end behind log-stop "J. DAVIS / BOSTON" in serif letters. One of a pair, 1978.0939.250-.251.
Straight tapered pint mug with molded rim and base having a large, deep U-shape spout attached perpendicular to a hollow, flattened oval-section, ear-shaped handle with cusp or spur thumbrest; body cut out at spout. Struck "G.RICHARDSON" in raised serif letters in a finely serrated rectangle on underside of flat inset bottom.
Broad-rim circular dish wih shallow flat well; no foot ring. Face of plain rim struck at top with the incuse roman letters "I T" and four times along bottom with touchmark of Edmund Dolbeare, consisting of the raised roman letters "E.D" above four stars in a small five-pointed shield; all marks face well. Hammer marks on booge.
Maker is Edmund Dolbeare (1644-ca. 1711) of Ashburton, Devonshire, England, who emigrated to Boston by 1671; he worked there until 1684, then in Salem, 1684-1693, and again in Boston, 1706-1711. Edmund Dolbeare was among the earliest pewterers in America and believed to be the first in Boston. His two eldest sons, John Dolbeare (1669-1740) and Joseph Dolbeare (b. ca. 1672) were also pewterers.
Raised bulbous or bellied cann or mug engraved on bottom underside "K / T*H" in shaded serif letters. Molded and scored rim, rounded bottom, and cast stepped circular foot. Hollow, double C-scroll handle has a sprigged upper terminal with tiered oval strut and thin split scroll lower terminal with oval attachment. Bottom underside struck once below initials and above centerpoint with "BENJAMIN / BURT" in raised slanted serif letters in a conforming surround. One of two canns, DL*59.2193B-C.
Maker is Benjamin Burt (1729-1805) of Boston, MA; son of John Burt (1692/3-1746) and brother to Samuel (1724-1754) and William (1726-1751), all silversmiths.
Oxidized, raised bulbous or bellied cann or mug with partially intact stenciled inscription dated "1887" on front and engraved serif initials "IC / C*T" on face of handle. Molded rim, rounded bottom, and cast stepped circular foot. Hollow, double C-scroll handle has a sprigged upper terminal with flared strut and a split scroll lower terminal with oval attachment. Rim exterior struck once to left of handle "[I•]CLARK" in raised serif letters in a rectangle. Centerpoint on bottom underside with old red-bordered white paper collection label adhered below.
Attributed to Joseph Clark(e), Jr. (1716-1783) of Boston, MA.
Straight tapered mug with high, wide fillet, molded rim and projecting flat bottom; quart size. Plain, hollow, shallow D-section, S-curve handle with spatulate or flat heel terminal; no thumbrest or struts. No touchmark apparent.
Raised ovoid sauceboat with rounded sides and narrow pouring lip on a raised oval flared or trumpet-shaped pedestal with slightly tapered base; opposite sides of body are engraved "JSB" in conjoined foliate script and "AAB" in flecked script. Triple-reeded band at rim. High-loop, C-curve, reeded and tapered strap handle has pendant drop and bead at upper terminal. Body struck once to left of handle "BBURT" in raised serif letters in a rectangle. No centerpunch or other marks on underside of body or base.
Decorative, rounded horizontal rectangular tray with shallow curved sides and flat well ornamented in low relief with the half-man, half-beast figure of Raijin, the Japanese god of storms, thunder, and lightning, as he leaps amidst clouds and waves to strike his sticks at nine drums swirling about his head. Cast iron; the entire piece electroplated in copper, then the ribbons in silver and the drums, his sticks, headband and drapery in gold, followed by black and verde antique finishes in imitation of patinated shakudō. Small hanging hole pierced at upper right. No foot ring. No marks.
Scrollwork-engraved octagonal or eight-paneled bowl with square banded rim on conforming, stepped-ogee foot. Seven panels feature large, S-curve plumes topped by a single flower, while the eighth has a symmetrical C-scroll reserve inscribed "Mary Hooper / to Henry & Harriet Hooper / Nov\r/. 20. 1845." in script. Underside of flat bottom struck above and below centerpoint "LOWS, BALL & CO." and "Sterling Silver", both in raised roman letters in rectangles.
Maker is Lows, Ball & Co. of Boston, MA; in partnership, 1840-1846. Predecessor firm of Shreve, Crump & Low.
Raised bulbous or bellied cann or mug engraved "Second / Presbyterian / Church / in / Newburyport." beneath drapery swags. Flared rim scored twice around exterior, rounded bottom, and cast flared circular foot. Hollow, double C-scroll handle has a sprigged upper terminal with flared strut and a split scroll lower terminal with oval attachment. Rim exterior struck once to left of handle "W.SIMPKINS" in raised serif letters in a curvilinear surround. Centerpoint on bottom underside.
Maker is William Simpkins (1704-1780) of Boston, MA; engraving added later.
Candlestick with an incurved cylindrical candle cup or socket on footed bowl-shaped base atop a tapered hexagonal stem with compressed-ball knop ending in a circular flared or trumpet-shaped drip pan on hexagonal stepped base. Molded rim and socket have one seam; hollow shaft cast in two vertical sections. Socket exterior with partial stamp of "PR" in raised serif letters inside a crowned shield. One of two candlesticks, DL*383563A-B.
Tankard with a raised stepped-and-domed lid topped by a cast spiral finial and plain straight tapered sides with applied moldings around rim, midbody and base. Edge of lid fits over rim of body. Cast S-curve, grooved scroll thumbpiece attaches to five-knuckle hinge with pendant drop. Hollow, D-section, S-curve handle is engraved on face "H / M*E" in shaded serif letters and has a domed oval terminal with oval attachment. Struck once on top of lid "D•P" in a curvilinear surround and on bottom underside below centerpoint "D•PARKER" in a rounded-corner rectangle, both with raised serif letters.
Maker is Daniel Parker (1726-1785) of Boston, MA. Parker was a member of the Sons of Liberty along with fellow silversmith Paul Revere, Jr.
Tankard with a raised stepped-and-domed lid topped by a cast spiral finial and plain straight tapered sides with applied moldings around rim and base. Edge of lid fits over rim of body. Cast S-curve, grooved scroll thumbpiece attaches to five-knuckle hinge with pendant drop. Hollow, D-section, S-curve handle has a domed oval terminal with oval attachment. Bottom underside struck once above centerpoint "IHURD" in raised slanted serif letters in a curvilinear surround; old red-bordered white paper collection label adhered below.
Maker is Jacob Hurd (1702/3-1758) of Boston, MA; he was a prolific silversmith and numerous examples of his work survive. Two of his sons Nathaniel (1730-1778) and Benjamin (1739-1781), were also silversmiths.
Oversized, raised bulbous or bellied cann or mug engraved "JNB" on front in conjoined foliate script. Applied molded rim, rounded bottom, and cast stepped circular foot. Hollow, double C-scroll handle has a scrolled acanthus leaf on top, an upper terminal with conical strut at rim and a lower termin with flared strut and oval attachment. Struck once to left of handle below rim on exterior "W•H" in raised serif letters in a rounded-corner rectangle. No centerpoint.
Maker is William Homes Jr. (1742-1823) of Boston, MA; Homes Jr. apprenticed with his father, William Homes Sr., and became proprietor of his shop on Ann St. in 1763. Homes Sr. was the nephew of Benjamin Franklin.
Two-handled, covered, squat baluster-shape bowl with cast floral rim and sprig decoration on its body in imitation of bright-cut engraving; flat bottom. Slightly domed cover is topped by a ring of matching floral scrolls. C-curve handles have scrolled acanthus sprigs and conical struts. Bottom underside struck incuse with a horizontal-banded circular mark for "BRISTOL (arched) / PLATE CO. (across center in band) / U.S.A. / QUADRUPLE PLATE (curved)" in sans serif letters above "357". From a four-piece tea service, DL*66.0275-.0278.
One of three full-size patent models (U.S. Patent No. 13,859) of hot-water-heated foot warmers, varying only in form, made by Nathaniel Waterman of Boston, MA, and patented on November 27, 1855. This rectangular model is intended for a bed, with an orange-red damask-upholstered vertical end and a hinged, slanted top. Contains a removable, conforming container or reservoir with two oval wire handles and a cork stopper. Interior of top is fitted with a metal plate to conduct heat. Small hook latch at front center. Darkened, handwritten identification label nailed to top edge. No other marks.