Description:
One of two silver teaspoons (see HD 2009.26.8) with an oval bowl and incised V-shaped drop on the back, and pointed handle engraved with bright-cut decoration (very soft or rubbed) on the front handle, which is marked "MORSE" in a rectangle for Moses Morse (b.1793), and engraved with the initials "SB" in script on the front of the handle. Buhler and Hood attributed this mark to Moses Mark as found on a silver teaspoon (acc. #1930.3323) in the Yale University Art Gallery collection. Morse worked as a silversmith in Boston from 1813-1830. These spoons are part of a collection of silver spoons from the Viola Wilby estate. An attached paper tags reads: "S.B belonged / to Sara Merritt Wells / ancestors / 1770-80" and "4" in a circle on one side, and "Nathaniel / Morse / (1 of 2)" on the other. According to a handwritten list of family objects in the HD 2009.26.1-.34 data file written by Elizabeth Hawks Wells (1845-1938), the wife of George Merritt Wells (1839-1883) of Deerfield: "The two small teaspoons "S.B" belonged to Sara Merritt Wells. They were owned & used by her ancestors." in 1825, Sarah Merrit (b.1796), the daughter of Simeon Merrtt (1762-1829) and Pamela Baker (1766-1843) of Conway, Massachusetts, married Joel B. Wells (1795-1841) of Deerfield.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2009.26.8 |
