Strainer, ca. 1765

Mark:
T . A, script initials with raised pellet between, in a rectangle on back of each arm <br/>
Engraved:
S B <br/>
Exhibited:
Early American Silver from the Collection of Cornelius C. Moore; The Rhode Island Historical Society; Providence, Rhode Island; January 1961; no. 49. The Point Association of Newport; Newport, Rhode Island; July 21, 1962; no. 21. Newton College of the Sacred Heart; Newton, Massachusetts; March 10, 1963; no. 68. The New England Silversmith; Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design; Providence, Rhode Island; October 23-November 28, 1965; no. 225. St. Julia's Women's Club; Weston, Massachusetts; May 25, 1966; no. 22. <br/>
Dimensions:
H. 1 1/4" D. of bowl 3 1/2" L 10 3/4" 2.435 ozt. <br/> This punch strainer has a shallow convex bowl curving in beneath a flaring rim. The interior is pierced with small crosses forming a large diamond shape which is bordered by piercings in the shapes of diamonds, scrolls, and arcs. The arcs are bisected on the inner side by dots. Each arm is terminated by a solid disk above an open heart, below which a symmetrical design of openwork scrolls is divided lengthwise. A similar strainer made by Jonathan Clarke of Newport for Jabez Bowen in 1766 is in the Mabel Brady Garvan Collection, Yale University Art Gallery. The initials S B in capitals are engraved on the back of one arm of the strainer.