Description: One of two silver beakers, seamed cylindrical body, with an applied cast molded rim with a double bead and larger bead, straight, tapered sides, and an applied and cast molded base and centerpunch on the underside. The beaker is marked "L.CARY" in a scroll with a sunburst at both ends and a serrated edge on the center underside for Lewis Cary (1798-1834), and engraved in script "The Gift of / GEORGE ARMS / 1819" on front. George Arms (1781-1819), who moved to Greenfield in 1815 and married Fanny Cushing in 1816, included in his will money to make "two drinking cups of Silver" for the Deerfield church "to hold about one pint each, made without handles; and I direct my Executor cause to be inscribed on each, the words, "The gift of George Arms" - & also, in figures, the year of our Lord when presented - which my Executor will perform within one year after my decease.". They had one child, George (1817-1842), and Arms left his estate in unequal proportions to his brothers-in-law, Solomon Williams and Augustus Lyman, to his brother, Josiah Lyman Arms, and to his sister, Dorothy Arms Smith. By the early 19th century, tankards were considered less appropriate for the communion service; refined worship called for matched sets of flagons for pouring communion wine, and cups or beakers for drinking it. Formerly L85.18.2
Tags: ceremonies Subjects: Rites and ceremonies Link to share this object record: https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+97.60.10 |