[Mary “Polly” Stevenson Hewson] | Franklin's wedding gift, a pair of George III silver candlesticks

[Mary “Polly” Stevenson Hewson]

A pair of George III silver candlesticks, inscribed “The Gift of Benjamin Franklin L.L.D./F.R.S." at base tops. London: Louis Black, 1763

43 oz/1337.5 g (height 294 mm). Formed as Ionic columns atop stepped square bases with gadrooned rims, with removable square nozzles, later closed bases, base tops inscribed "The Gift of Benjamin Franklin L.L.D. / F.R.S.," marked on base rims and nozzles.

Franklin's gift to Mary "Polly" Stevenson upon her marriage to Dr. William Hewson in 1770.

The present lot contains two of four silver candlesticks gifted to the newlyweds, epitomizing Franklin's close relationship with Polly and her family. Franklin evidently thought of her as one of his own: as Polly's own father had passed away, Franklin walked her down the aisle at the wedding. Indeed, Franklin had previously encouraged a match between Polly and his own son, William, to no avail; he even tried to make a match between Polly's daughter and his own grandson decades later. After Polly's husband passed away in 1774, Franklin encouraged Polly to move from London to Philadelphia, further strengthening their friendship. When Franklin died in 1790, Polly was present at his bedside.

The candlesticks passed by descent to Polly's son, Thomas Tickell Hewson, who became a renowned Philadelphia physician. In her will, dated 1794, she states, "To Thomas Tickell Hewson silver candlesticks inscribed with Dr. Franklin's name" (The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, 1905, Vol. 29, No. 3, pp. 310-319). After Thomas died, he left the candlesticks to his son, Dr. Addinell Hewson. Upon Addinell's death, the four candlesticks were split between two of his children: two to his daughter Emily Hewson (the present lot) and two to his son, Addinell Hewson, Jr. The second pair descended through Addinell Hewson Jr.'s family, who loaned them to the Philadelphia Museum of Art for a 1921 exhibition on Colonial Silver (Philadelphia Museum of Art Bulletin, June 1921, Issue 68, p. 46, No. 321), and these presumably remain within the family.

PROVENANCE

Benjamin Franklin, gifted to — Mary "Polly" Stevenson (1739–1795), London, to her son — Dr. Thomas Tickell Hewson (1773–1848), Philadelphia, to his son — Dr. Addinell Hewson, Sr. (1828–1889), Philadelphia, to his daughter — Emily Hewson (1865–1935) — thence by descent — Sotheby's, "Important Americana," 25 January 2025, lot 11