PROPERTY OF A MEMBER OF THE ELIOT FAMILY OF BOSTON The Goddard Family Silver The following two lots were originally owned by Benjamin and Louisa (May) Goddard of Brookline, Massachusetts, married in 1792. The connection of the silver to Paul Revere lies not only in their design, but also in the historical connection of Benjamin's father to Paul Revere during the Revolution. Like Paul Revere, John Goddard was a patriot and key figure in the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775. Goddard stored artillery in his barn in Brookline, and the night before Revere's famous ride, he transported cannons and other ammunition to Concord. Goddard was witness to the bloodshed in Lexington, where Minutemen confronted British soldiers on their way to seize the military supplies at Concord. Goddard became officially in charge of artillery for George Washington's army, and after the defeat of the British in Boston in 1776, Washington appointed Goddard Wagon-Master General of the Continental Army. John's son Benjamin built a large house at 43 Sumner Road in Brookline in 1811, and it is likely that the silver dates to this period. The teapot was a gift from Benjamin's brother William to Louisa Goddard, presumably well after her marriage as it bears her married initials. IMAGE CAPTIONS: Benjamin Goddard (1766-1864), by George Harvey, circa 1835 Courtesy Massachusetts Historical Society Benjamin Goddard House, built 1811, Brookline, Massachusetts Courtesy The Brookline Historical Society Silver Cream Jug, marked by Thomas Revere, Jr. (c. 1766-1817), Boston, circa 1795 Courtesy Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, H.E. Bolles Fund, 61.197

A SILVER TEAPOT

ATTRIBUTED TO THE SHOP OF PAUL REVERE, JR., BOSTON, CIRCA 1811

Details

A SILVER TEAPOT
ATTRIBUTED TO THE SHOP OF PAUL REVERE, JR., BOSTON, CIRCA 1811
Of fluted and panelled urn form, on conforming flaring foot, the body bright-cut engraved with swags held by looped cords with tassels, suspending on each side an oval cartouche engraved with script monogram WG to LG, with wood handle and scroll spout, the hinged domed cover with engraved sunburst centering a cast bud finial, engraved under base with family provenance circa 1923, apparently unmarked
11½ in. high; 30 oz. 10 dwt. gross weight
Inscription on base: William Goddard (1781-1835) to Louisa May (1773-1832) who married (1793) Benjamin Goddard (1766-1861) To Eleanor Goddard May 1916 to Frederick May Eliot and Elizabeth Lee Eliot, 1923

Provenance

William Goddard (1784-1835), gift to
Louisa May Goddard (1773-1832), married Benjamin Goddard (1766-1864) of Brookline, Massachusetts, in 1793; by descent to
Eleanor Goddard May, 1916
Frederick May Eliot, married Elizabeth Lee Eliot, 1923; by descent to the current generation

Lot Essay

The engraving on this teapot is identical to that on a sugar urn made by Paul Revere for his own family's use. Documented in Revere family inventories and also unmarked, the urn was donated to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, by the Estate of Pauline Revere Thayer in 1935. Kathryn Buhler firmly attributes the urn to Revere in American Silver in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, 1972, p. 434, fig. 384. The distinctive engraving, featuring tassels with a seven- to nine-stroke fringe suspending from loosely-looped cords, is found on marked pieces by Revere as well, including a teapot made for Jonathan Hunnewell in 1796, illustrated in Buhler, op. cit., p. 456, fig. 405.

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