AN AMERICAN SILVER OCTAGONAL SUGAR BOWL AND COVER, JOSEPH RICHARDSON SR., PHILADELPHIA, CIRCA 1740

interior of bowl and lip of cover engraved with stars to indicate alignment.

Jonathan Trace, January 1989

SAM American Sampler 2002-2005

outside a little bright compared to inside, no cover mark, but stars engraved to indicate position, 2 very slight splits in flutes at top of bowl
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.

This bowl is closely related to two other octagonal sugar bowls by Richardson.  The first was made for Oswald and Lydia Peel, and was sold Christie's, New York, January 21, 2000, lot 321. It is recorded in Richardson's account book in February, 1736: "a Sugar Dish wt 11 oz 9 dwt at 3/0 per oz" which cost Peel £5 3s plus an additional £2 5s for "Making ye above." (Joseph Richardson's Accounts Book, Historical Society of Pennsylvania mss #Am9240).  The second was sold from the collection of Mr. & Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords, Sotheby's New York, October 29, 2004, lot 652.  The base of that bowl is engraved EM, and Martha Gandy Fales associated it with one purchased by Samuel Emlen in 1747.