Metals
William Will (Maker)
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America
1785-1798
Pewter
Cast
1954.0033
Object Number1954.0033 |
Coffee pot
Metals
Gift of Henry Francis du Pont
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.
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America
1785-1798
1. Mark; Platform base, front; "W.\M WILL/ PHILA/ DELPHIA" in rectangular arched cartouche, bird's head
2. Mark; Platform base, back; "W.\M WILL/ PHILA/ DELPHIA"
3. Mark; Platform base, front, inside and inverted; "LONDON", stamped
4. Mark; Platform base, back, inside and inverted; "LONDON", stamped
Pewter
Cast
15.874 (H) , 11.374 (W)
40.32 (H) , 28.89 (W)
Text available soon.
[Article] Hamilton, Suzanne C. 1972 The Pewter of William Will: A Checklist. Winterthur Portfolio. 7: 129-160.
• Published: p. 136, fig. 11.
[Book] Montgomery, Charles F. 1973 A History of American Pewter.
• Published: p. 181, fig. 11-16.
[Book] The Pewter Collectors' Club of America Inc. 1984 Pewter in American Life.
• Published: p. 53 and description p. 52
[Book] Kauffman, Henry J. & Briggs, Dorothy. 1970 The American Pewterer: His Techniques & His Products.
• Published: p. 67 and discussed p.66
[Book] Ebert, Katherine. 1973 Collecting American Pewter.
• Published: p. 45
[Article] LeFever, Gregory. 12//2007 Early Pewter Tableware. Early American Life Magazine. 38 (6): 58-68.
• Published: p. 59