Object Number 1958.0053.002

Object Name

Beaker

Category

Metals

Credit Line/Donor

Museum purchase with funds provided by Joseph France

Creator (Role)

Samuel Pierce (Maker)
07/08/1767-03/25/1840
Samuel Pierce's parents were Stephen & Hannah Pierce. He may have been trained in the shop of Joseph Danforth. In 1790 he married Anne Joyce and moved to Greenfield, Massachusetts shortly thereafter. Pewtering was not Pierce's principal source of income. He lived in Greenfield, Massachusetts, which was growing due to the efforts of the entrepreneur, Colonel William Moore, until about 1799. He moved to Colrain, Massachusetts in about 1802, and returned to Greenfield about three years later. About 1807 Pierce seems to have purchased molds and tools to manufacture pewter. In 1811, Samuel Pierce went into partnership with his son, John Joyce in a general hardware merchandising business. It seems that during the 10 years of this partnership that most of the pewter was made. Even though the demand for pewter fell off sharply after 1821, Pierce continued making some until 1831, when he retired. For more on Samuel Pierce's marks, see Carl Jacobs, Guide to American Pewter (1957), p.145; C. Jordan Thorn, Handbook of American Silver and Pewter Marks (1949), p.273; Ebert, Collecting American Pewter (1973), p.139; and Montgomery, History of American Pewter (1973), p.226. See also Julia D.S. Snow, "Samuel Pierce, Pewterer, and His Tools" in Antiques (Februrary, 1927); J.B. Kerfoot, American Pewter (1942), p.96; and Laughlin, Pewter in America (1981), vol.1, p.124-125 and vol.3, p.80-81.

Place of Origin

Greenfield, Massachusetts, United States, North America

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Mark; Bottom interior, center; "S.P./ X" in serrated circle, stamped
2. Inscription; Side, middle; "Gill / 1793" engraved in script

Materials

Pewter

Techniques

Cast

Dimensions (inches)

4.375 (H) , 3.675 (Diam)

Dimensions (centimeters)

11.113 (H) , 9.335 (Diam)

Measurement Notes

Overall diameter at the upper lip is 3.675 inches. Overall diameter of the base is 3.25 inches.

Object Description

Text available soon.