Hot water plate (Dish warmer)

Museum Object Number 1954.0097.002

Object Name

Hot water plate (Dish warmer)

Category

Metals

Credit Line/Donor

Gift of Henry Francis du Pont

Creator (Role)

William Will (Maker)

Creator Notes

Son of John Will, Pewterer; brother of Henry and Philip. William emigrated to New York with his father in 1752 and probably served an apprenticeship with his brother Henry. He probably moved to Philadelphia with Philip (for more, see Laughlin, pp.51-55). Suzanne Hamilton, The Pewter of William Will: A Checklist." Winterthur Portfolio &, 1972, pp. 129-160. Hamilton suggests that William came to Philadelphia from Germany with his brother Philip who advertised as a pewterer in 1763. William married in 1764, the date commony used as the starting year for his career. He also oversaw the poor as the sheriff of the city and county of Philadelphia (1780-1782) and as a representative to the General Assembly. During the Revolutionary War he had the responsibility for property confiscated from those who did not support the American cause. Will formed his own company of militia and held commands in the Continental Army. He invested in real estate throughout his life but declared bankruptcy in 1789. He was also an innkeeper. John Townsend's maker's mark served as a model for marks by William Will of Philadelphia and Richard Austin of Boston (Laughlin, Pewter in America, vol 2, p.133). For more on William Will's marks, see Carl Jacobs, Guide to American Pewter (1957), pp.184-186; C. Jordan Thorn, Handbook of American Silver and Pewter Marks (1949), section 2, p.286; Ebert, Collecting American Pewter (1973), p.144; and Montgomery, History of American Pewter (1973), pp.228-229. See also J.B. Kerfoot, American Pewter (1942), pp.87-89 and Laughlin, Pewter in America (1981), vol.2, pp.51-55.

Date of Birth

01/27/1742

Date of Death

02/14/1798

Place of Origin

Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

Date

1764-1798

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Mark; Base, underside, middle; "W\m WIL[ ]" in serrated rectangle, stamped
2. Mark; Base, underside, above; Crowned "X", stamped
3. Mark; Base, underside, below left; Balance beam and scales within rectangular cartouche, stamped
4. Mark; Base, underside, below right; Balance beam and scales within rectangular cartouche, stamped

Materials

Pewter; Brass wire

Techniques

Cast

Dimensions (inches)

1.374 (H) , 10.252 (Diam)

Dimensions (centimeters)

3.49 (H) , 26.04 (Diam)

Object Description

Text available soon.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Article] Hamilton, Suzanne C. 1972 The Pewter of William Will: A Checklist. Winterthur Portfolio. 7: 129-160.
• Published: mark only, p. 131 fig. 4.