An AMERICAN SILVER BOWL, Simeon Coley, New York, circa 1767-69

the front engraved with foliate initials TS.

Christies, New York, January 1987
Christies, New York, January 1994

one small crease to lower body, overall good
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.

Simeon Coley spent most of his career as a goldsmith in London, where he entered his first mark, SC, in 1761 and another version of this mark in 1763. Based on his newspaper advertisements, it appears that Coley only spent three years in New York, and pieces bearing his American mark, S. Coley, are thus rare. His first New York advertisement is dated September 11, 1766, and his last, announcing his intention "to leave this City this Month," was dated September 4, 1769.

His leaving New York was probably a result of being on the wrong side of pre ­Revolutionary politics. A newspaper article of July 24, 1769 reported Coley's "daring Infractions of the Non­importation Agreement; his insolent and futile Defence of those inglorious Measures; with his avowed Resolution obstinately to persevere in counteracting the legal Efforts of a brave and free People in support of their inestimable Rights." Coley's advertisements before this date did indeed include a great deal of English imports, mostly jewelry and small specialty items such as "etwe" (etuis).

While it is thought that he spent some time in Jamaica after leaving New York, Coley had returned to London at least by 1773, when he became free of the Glovers' Company. From 1773 to 1780, Coley entered four SC marks in the Bucklemakers' Registers at Goldsmiths' Hall. Since Coley only registered in London as either a smallworker or a bucklemaker, it seems that Coley made no large holloware in England, and indeed no example is known (see Arthur Grimwade, London Goldsmiths 1697­-1837, 1976, and Rita Susswein  Gottesman, The Arts and Crafts in New York 1726­-1776, 1938).