Teapot, 1775-1789

Mark:
I . S M I T H, capital letters with pellet, stamped twice on bottom <br/>
Engraved:
I P W <br/>
Exhibited:
Early American Silver from the Collection of Cornelius C. Moore; The Rhode Island Historical Society; Providence, Rhode Island; January 1961; no. 8. The Point Association of Newport; Newport, Rhode Island; July 21, 1962; no. 11. Newton College of the Sacred Heart; Newton, Massachusetts; March 10, 1963; no. 58. Salve Regina College; Newport, Rhode Island; May 17, 1964; no. 58. The New England Silversmith; Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design; Providence, Rhode Island; October 23-November 28, 1965; no. 183; fig 67.. St. Julia's Women's Club; Weston, Massachusetts; May 25, 1966; no. 10. <br/>
Dimensions:
H. 7 1/2" D. 3 3/4" L. 5 1/8" 17.315 ozt. <br/> In the last quarter of the eighteenth century, the form of the teapot radically changed from a circular shape to a rectangular shape. The Joseph Smith teapot in the Moore Collection illustrates the latter type. It can be described as a rectangular teapot with fluted sides and concave panels at the corners, and having a straight spout. The incurved top section of the body rises to an oval domed and hinged lid with a high D-curve and grip. Bright-cut leaves extend from the finial down over part of the domed section of the lid and are contained within a lozenge-shaped border. A border of triangular shapes decorates the edge of the lid. The decoration on the main body consists of a wide border on top and bottom of dotted circles with stylized and alternating flowers and thistles in the circles separated by stylized leaves. A circular motif of dotted lines and triangles encloses the monogram on either side. The teapot is flat based without any foot or base moulding. It is engraved I P W in script within a circle on either side of the body. It is likely that the W represents the Wells family of Canton, Massachusetts, who owned the teapot. The Wellses were neighbors of Paul Revere. (Paul Revere owned a copper mill in Canton.) Quite possibly, the thistle design was of personal significance to the Wells family (Gebelein, January 6, 1966).