Sugar bowl, or container for the esrog, ca. 1765-1770

Mark:
Myers, upper- and lowercase script in a cartouche, struck twice on the bottom of the foot, each punch placed over the beginnings of another Myers mark <br/>
Engraved:
Rampant lion on torus <br/>
Exhibited:
Early American Silver from the Collection of Cornelius C. Moore; The Rhode Island Historical Society; Providence, Rhode Island; January 1961; no. 4. The Point Association of Newport; Newport, Rhode Island; July 21, 1962; no.8. Newton College of the Sacred Heart; Newton, Massachusetts; March 10, 1963; no. 56. Salve Regina College; Newport, Rhode Island; May 17, 1964; no. 56. St. Julia's Women's Club; Weston, Massachusetts; May 25, 1966; no. 9. <br/>
Dimensions:
H. 6 1/8" D. of top of body 4 5/8" 10.28 ozt. <br/> The usage of this covered bowl is a controversial subject. According to Rabbi Dr. Theodore Lewis of the Touro Synagogue from Newport, Rhode Island, this piece is a container for the esrog. He explained that the Jewish blessing during the Festival of Tabernacles is celebrated over four plants: the palm branch, the citron (esrog), the willow of the brook, and the myrtle. The Moore container was actually used at the Touro Synagogue during the Festival of Tabernacles. The shape of this object is also very interesting. The elements on the piece exemplify the style of the Rococo period. The double curved body with a domed cover flows down to a moulded splayed foot. The decorative quality in the gadrooning on the upper section of the cover and then swirling in the opposite direction on the lower section displays an unusual Myers style of contrasting ornamented with plain surfaces (Adolph S. Cavallo, "A Covered Sugar Urn by Myer Myers," Brooklyn Museum Bulletin [Spring 1954], p. 1). There is also a rope-like moulding near the edge of the foot, and a similar reversed moulding is seen below the bell-shaped finial. Engraved above the gadrooning on the body is a rampant lion on torus.