Plate

  • Category:

    Metals

  • Creator (Role):

    Joseph Danforth Sr. (Maker)

  • Place of Origin:

    Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut, New England, United States, North America

  • Date:

    1780-1788

  • Materials:

    Pewter

  • Techniques:

    Cast

  • Museum Object Number:

    1960.0945


  • Complete Details



Object Number

1960.0945

Object Name

Plate

Category

Metals

Credit Line/Donor

Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont

Creator (Role)

Joseph Danforth Sr. (Maker)
08//1758-1788
Joseph Danforth Sr was grandson of Thomas I, son of Thomas II; brother of Thomas III, Edward, Jonathan (of Middletown) and Samuel (of Middletown); father of Joseph Jr; uncle to Josiah; nephew of John; cousin of Samuel (both of Norwich). Nineteen members of the Danforth family, spread over five generations, became invovled with manufacturing pewter or britannia. Joseph probably worked closely with his father, Thomas II, in the Middletown shop. Joseph took over Thomas II's business at the latter's death in 1782. Joseph's brother and former apprentice, Jonathan (of Middletown), took over the business on Joseph's death in 1788. For more on Joseph Danforth's marks, see John Carl Thomas, Connecticut Pewter and Pewterers (1976), p.88; Montgomery, History of American Pewter (1973), p.219; Ebert, Collecting American Pewter (1973), p.128-130; Carl Jacobs, Guide to American Pewter (1957), p.65-67; C. Jordan Thorn, Handbook of American Silver and Pewter Marks (1949), p.248; and Kauffman, The American Pewterer (1970), p.138. See also Thomas, Connecticut Pewter, p.50-145; Laughlin, Pewter in America (1981), vol.1, p.115-117.

Place of Origin

Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut, New England, United States, North America

Date

1780-1788

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Mark ; Underside of base; "JOSEP " in an arched oval above and "DANFORTH" below with a rampant lion in the center between two fluted columns, stamped and partially effaced.
2. Mark ; Underside of base; "JOSEP " in an arched oval above and "DANFORTH" below with a rampant lion in the center between two fluted columns, stamped and partially effaced.
3. Mark ; Underside of base; "I.D" stamped in a shield.
4. Mark ; Underside of base; Animal or lion's head stamped in a shield.
5. Mark ; Underside of base; Seated Britannia stamped in a shield.
6. Mark; Underside; Vertical dagger stamped in a shield.

Materials

Pewter

Techniques

Cast

Dimensions (inches)

0.591 (H) , 7.874 (Diam)

Dimensions (centimeters)

1.5 (H) , 20 (Diam)

Object Description

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