Description:
Silver two-handled cup with a cylindrical body with a slightly everted rim, embossed cable collar, rounded base chased with sloping gadroons, and two molded scrolled strap handles. This cup is marked "IC" over a fleur-de-lis in a shaped heart to the left of the handle and on the base for John Coney (1655/6-1722), and engraved on the base with the initials "S H." It has been suggested that this might possibly be Sarah Savage (1653-1713), the daughter of wealthy Boston merchant Thomas Savage (1607/8-1681/82) and his second wife, Mary Symmes (1628-1710), who married John Higginson (1646-1719/20) of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1672. Mary Symmes Savage later married Anthony Stoddard (d.1686/7), but was buried in the Savage tomb. In her will made Feb. 5, 1697/8 and proved in 1710, she gave her daughter Sarah Higginson her "Molatto Girl named Ann and all the wrought plate," which included another silver two-handled cup made by John Coney for her parents circa 1680 (see Hermann Clarke, "John Coney, 1655-1722," #25). John Higginson, by then a wealthy and influential Salem merchant, donated this cup to the First Church in Salem in 1720, which the First Church of Salem put up for auction at Christie's NY on Jan. 18, 2007 (lot 61). Two silver cups made by Coney nearly identical to HD's example were auctioned at Sotheby's New York on 31 January 1986 (lots 402-403), and one of those cups was auctioned at Christie's NY on Jan. 21-22, 1994 (lot 114). Neither of those cups, which are very diferent styistically from the Higginson cup, have any association to the Savages and were found at a London flea market. Two-handled cups such as this type are often identified as porringers, caudle cups, or posset pots - terms used interchangeably in the 17th century.This cup was found by Therese B. Vinsonhaler (Mrs. George Vinsonhaler) of Wayland, Mass., at an antique shop on Cape Cod. John Coney was unquestionably one of the giants of early American silver; in quality, quantity, and variety, his work in silver is unsurpassed and some consider him as the preeminent goldsmith of the colonial era. Born in Boston (his father was the blacksmith, John Coney), Coney was apprenticed at the age of fourteen to the master silversmith, Jeremiah Dummer. On his own, Coney created artistic and ambitious pieces of silver, including sugar boxes, monteiths, and inkstands. Wgt. 2 ozs., 8 1/2 dwts., 3 grs.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+61.452 |
