Lot 115
  • 115

The Elijah Danforth Tankard: An American silver tankard, Jacob Hurd, Boston, circa 1730

Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 USD
bidding is closed

Description

  • maker's mark Hurd in oval at left of handle and on base (Kane mark C)
  • Silver
  • height 7 1/4 inches
  • 18.4cm
tapered cylindrical with molded girdle, engraved with Danforth arms in acanthus and shell cartouche and inscribed The Gift of Elijah Danforth Esqr to the Church in Dorchester Anno Domini 1736 on front

Provenance

Bequest of Elijah Danforth in 1737 to

The First Parish in Dorchester, Dorchester, MA

Exhibited

Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, 1911. American Church Silver of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries, with a few pieces of Domestic Plate, no. 642
Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, loan, 1938-2011

Literature

Ebenezer Clapp Jr., History of the town of Dorchester, 1859, p. 275, p. 301.
E. Alfred Jones, The Old Silver of American Churches, 1913, p. 147.
Charles Knowles Bolton, Bolton's American Armory, 1927, p. 45.
Hollis B. French, S.B. Jacob Hurd and his Sons Nathaniel & Benjamin, Silversmiths 1702-1781, 1939, p. 45.
.Patricia E. Kane, Colonial Massachusetts Silversmiths and Jewelers, 1998, p. 608.

Condition

hinge slightly loose and sides a little bright, otherwise good condition, amusing coat of arms
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

Elijah Danforth was born on November 30, 1683 in Dorchester, MA and died on October 8, 1736. He was the son of Reverend John Danforth and his wife Elizabeth (d. 1722). Danforth graduated from Harvard College in 1703, having been bequeathed an annual scholarship of £20 in the will of Governor William Stoughton.

Danforth was one of Dorchester's earliest physicians.  A nineteenth century historian recorded that he was known as "a good and safe physician and he had been one of ye Justices of ye Peace for the County of Suffolk for many years together."

His will, dated March 5, 1735, stated "I give to the Deacons of Church in Dorchester and their successors for the only use & service of the Lords Table in the Congregational church in said Dorchester my large silver tankard to be changed in the form of it at ye discretion of the Deacons into convenient vessels for the service aforesaid."  The testator revoked the clause relating to the transformation of the tankard into other vessels, and allowed it to be given to the church unchanged.