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Lot Essay
This pair of sauce, or "butter," boats belongs to a set of four by Revere descending from Boston merchant Moses Michael Hays (1739-1805). As one of Revere's major patrons, and only Jewish client, Hays is known to have placed twenty-five orders with the silversmith between 1783 and 1792. Beyond the roles of patron and craftsman, Hays and Revere shared a connection to Freemasonry, as both were members of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, serving together as Grand Master and Deputy Grand Master in 1791.
Hays's commissions from Revere are discussed in Jeannine Falino, "The Customers of Paul Revere," in J. Falino and G.W.R. Ward, New England Silver & Silversmithing, 2001, where these sauceboats are illustrated on p. 170. (See also Jane Bortman, "Moses Hays and his Revere Silver," The Magazine Antiques, October 1954, pp. 304-305.)
A bowl by Revere also descending from Moses Michael Hays is engraved Hays in the same hand as the present sauceboats. The bowl is now in the collection of the State Department (illustrated in Clement E. Conger et al., Treasures of State, 1991, no. 216, p. 345).
The two other sauceboats from the Hays set of four are listed singly in Patricia E. Kane, Colonial Massachusetts Silversmiths and Jewelers, 1998, p. 825.
Other examples of Revere silver made for Moses Michael Hays sold at auction include a pair of wine cups of 1792, sold Sotheby's, New York, 23 January 2011, lot 122, and a pair of "Ragout Spoons" of 1786, sold Sotheby's, New York, 20 January 2012, lot 100.
Hays's commissions from Revere are discussed in Jeannine Falino, "The Customers of Paul Revere," in J. Falino and G.W.R. Ward, New England Silver & Silversmithing, 2001, where these sauceboats are illustrated on p. 170. (See also Jane Bortman, "Moses Hays and his Revere Silver," The Magazine Antiques, October 1954, pp. 304-305.)
A bowl by Revere also descending from Moses Michael Hays is engraved Hays in the same hand as the present sauceboats. The bowl is now in the collection of the State Department (illustrated in Clement E. Conger et al., Treasures of State, 1991, no. 216, p. 345).
The two other sauceboats from the Hays set of four are listed singly in Patricia E. Kane, Colonial Massachusetts Silversmiths and Jewelers, 1998, p. 825.
Other examples of Revere silver made for Moses Michael Hays sold at auction include a pair of wine cups of 1792, sold Sotheby's, New York, 23 January 2011, lot 122, and a pair of "Ragout Spoons" of 1786, sold Sotheby's, New York, 20 January 2012, lot 100.