Lot 176
  • 176

An Unusual American Silver Teapot engraved with hunters in a landscape, Jacob Hurd, Boston, circa 1750

Estimate
70,000 - 100,000 USD
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Description

  • marked twice on base HURD in rectangle (Kane mark D) and scratched ?Nillis 20 oz "3 " 0
  • Silver, wood
  • length 9 3/4 in.
  • 24.7cm
of inverted pear form on stepped circular foot and with partly faceted S-form spout, engraved on one side with contemporary arms in a rococo shellwork cartouche surrounded by scrolling foliage and panels of trellis, all surmounted by a fox head crest, opposite side with script initial P, the top of the pot and hinged cover finely engraved with a landscape of a village and fox hunting scenes including two houses, ducks swimming in a pond, a farmer smoking a pipe, running stags, boars, dogs, and two hunters on horseback pursuing foxes, one hunter with horn proclaiming: " the hounds are all out a ho ho ho", topped by a wood knop finial with engraved silver bud,

Provenance

The arms are those of Foxcroft, probably for Judge Francis Foxcroft, son of Francis Foxcroft, warden of King's Chapel and Elizabeth Danforth, daughter of Governor Danforth. He married Mehitable Coney, daughter of John Coney, the famous goldsmith.

 

The teapot is engraved with the slightly later script initial P, almost certainly for their daughter Phoebe Foxcroft (1743-1812), who, on 12 July 1773, married Samuel Phillips, Jr (1743-1802), later Lt. Governor and founder of Phillips Academy, Andover MA. Samuel's parents' initials P/S*E appear on the Hurd porringer from the same collection, lot 171 in this sale.

 

Among the highly characterful engraving on the top of the teapot appears a house with a pediment enclosing a running fox as a rebus on the family name.

Condition

wood handle slightly loose, very slight wear throughout, but all engraving still legible, two scratches in spout
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Catalogue Note

A block-front chest from the same family was sold Sotheby's New York, 18 October 1986, lot 208, for the exceptional price of $660,000.