Object Number 1967.1369

Object Name

Mug

Category

Metals

Credit Line/Donor

Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont

Creator (Role)

William Will (Maker)
01/27/1742-02/14/1798
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.

Place of Origin

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

Date

1775-1780

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Inscription; Front side, exterior; "LIBERTY Or DEATH/ HUZZA For CAPT. ICKES", engraved
2. Mark; Bottom, inside; "PHILAD", stamped in a rectangle

Subjects

Military; American Revolutionary War; Animals

Materials

Pewter

Techniques

cast, Engraved

Dimensions (inches)

5.752 (H) , 6.374 (W)

Dimensions (centimeters)

14.61 (H) , 16.19 (W)

Object Description

Text available soon.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Foner, Eric. 2020 Give Me Liberty! An American History.
• Published: p. 207
[Catalogue] Garvan, Beatrice B. & Hummel, Charles F. 1982 The Pennsylvania Germans: a celebration of their arts, 1683-1850. An exhibition organized by the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum.
• Published: col. pl. 84
[Book] Ames, Kenneth L. 1977 Beyond Necessity: Art in the Folk Tradition.
• Published: p. 84, fig. 102; p.108, cat. no. 23.
[Book] Hutchins, Catherine E., et al. 1983 Arts of the Pennsylvania Germans.
• Published: fig. 209, p. 217
[Book] Montgomery, Charles F. 1973 A History of American Pewter.
• Published: fig. 3-1, p. 43
[Catalogue] Minardi, Lisa. 2015 A Colorful Folk: Pennsylvania Germans & the Art of Everyday Life.
• Published: fig. 71, p.55
[Article] Fritz, James. 08/05/2022 Captain Peter Ickes' House and Tankard: Discovery and Historical Connection. Antiques & Auction News. 1, 5.
• Published: p.1