Metals
William Will (Maker)
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America
1764-1798
Pewter; Wood
1961.1680
Object Number1961.1680 |
Teapot
Metals
Bequest 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
1764-1798
1. Mark; Bottom, inside; "W\m WILL" stamped in a serrated rectangle, textured ground.
2. Mark; Bottom, inside; Crowned "X" stamped incuse.
Pewter; Wood
6.252 (H) , 8 (W)
15.88 (H) , 20.32 (W)
Text available soon.
[Book] Montgomery, Charles F. 1973 A History of American Pewter.
• Published: fig. 11-5, pp. 172. Discussion of different teapot forms made by William Will, p. 173.