Lot 118: AN AMERICAN SILVER COFFEE POT, HARVEY LEWIS & JOSEPH SMITH, PHILADELPHIA, CIRCA 1810

PROPERTY DESCENDED IN AN EAST COAST FAMILY

weight
46oz (1431g) gross

measurements
height 16 1/2in. (42cm)

Urn form lower body, gadrooned around lower half, joined to incurved neck by band of narrow beading, stepped and incurved hinged lid with beading along rims and urn finial, S-curve spout with applied anthemion on upper end, stepped pedestal foot with beaded rims on shallow square plinth, one side of body engraved with contemporary monogram RMS in foliate script, marked Lewis & Smith in conforming punch

NOTE

The short-lived partnership of Harvey Lewis and Joseph Smith began in 1805. Lewis, who had been apprentice to Joseph Lownes, appears to have gone into business on his own in 1802 and took his first apprentice two years later. In 1805, with borrowed capital from Joseph Richardson, Jr., Lewis and Smith established their business as partners. By 1810 the partnership had ended and by the following year Lewis had set up a new shop and wharehouse on Second Street.