Metals
Israel Trask (Maker)
Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, New England, United States, North America
1812-1830
Britannia metal
1958.0673
Object Number1958.0673 |
Coffee pot (Teapot)
Metals
Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont
Israel Trask (Maker)
10/24/1786-1867
Brother of Oliver Trask.
Laughin states that Isreal Trask was apprenticed to John W. Ellingwood, a silversmith. Trask bought out Ellingwood's stock in trade in 1807. He was one of the first to begin working with britannia, in 1813 (Laughlin edits his own and Kerfoot's earlier date of 1825 for the beginning of britannia manufacture in volume 3, p.192). Trask's training as a silversmith are apparent in designs and decorations on his pewter. Trask might also be associated with Philip Lee (Laughlin, Pewter in America, 1981, vol.2, pp.114-115; vol.3, pp.191-193). Trask is particularly known for his so-called "lighthouse" teapots. He may have trained his younger brother, Oliver.
For more on Israel Trask's marks, see Carl Jacobs, Guide to American Pewter (1957), pp.169-171; C. Jordan Thorn, Handbook of American Silver and Pewter Marks (1949), p.280; Ebert, Collecting American Pewter (1973), p.143; and Montgomery, History of American Pewter (1973), p.227. See also J.B. Kerfoot, American Pewter (1942), pp.148-150.
Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, New England, United States, North America
1812-1830
1. Mark; Base, underside; "I.\TRASK" in rectangle, stamped
Britannia metal
11.374 (H) , 9.626 (W)
28.89 (H) , 24.45 (W)
Text available soon.
[Book] Montgomery, Charles F. 1973 A History of American Pewter.
• Published: fig. 11-14, p. 178-179
[Article] Goyne, Nancy A. 1965 Britannia in America: The Introduction of a New Alloy and a New Industry. Winterthur Portfolio. (II): 160-196.
• Published: figs. 2 & 3, p. 167