Mug

Object Name:

Mug

Object ID:

1979.055.13

Creator:

Moulton, Joseph (1744-1816)Silversmith

Place of Origin:

Newburyport, MA

Date:

circa 1800

Description:

Mug. Made by Joseph Moulton (1744-1816); Owned by Joshua Thomas (1760-1820), Newburyport, MA; c. 1800. Silver. Hooped, barrel form. Slightly tapered cylindrical body, seamed vertically at the handle; inset circular base; two broad bands of horizontal reeding. D-shaped handle with flat sides cast in two parts and soldered vertically. "JOSHUA THOMAS" engraved in two-sizes of upper-case cross-hatched block letters within a cartouche of a laurel wreath on the front; "MOULTON" in upper-case roman letters, within a rectangle stamped into bottom of base.

Material:

Metal
Silver

Dimensions:

H-5 W-5.5 Dia-4 inches

Provenance:

The mug is engraved with the name of Joshua Thomas (1766-1820), surgeon of Newburyport, MA. It was later owned by Joshua Thomas's nephew, Rev. Moses George Thomas (1805-1880). The donor, Louise Thomas Blanding (1891-1981), was a granddaughter of Rev. Moses Thomas.

Note in accession file, probably from donor or a relative, reads: "Silver Beer Stein given to Moses Thomas from his uncle and inscribed (By Moulton) 'Joshua Thomas'". However, in will the piece is described as "Silver 'beer stein' of Moses Thomas, Sr.;" Moses Sr. was brother of Dr. Joshua Thomas, while Moses George Thomas Jr. was the nephew.

Credit Line:

Bequest of Louise Thomas Blanding

People:

Thomas, Joshua (1766-1820), Thomas, Moses (1767-1856), Thomas, Moses G. (1805-1880), Moulton, Joseph (1744-1816), Blanding, Louise T. (1891-1981)