Beaker

Moody Russell

ca. 1719 · Silver · The American Wing

The sum of eight pounds bequeathed by Shearjashub Bourn[e] to the church in Sandwich, Massachusetts, likely was used to purchase these two beakers. Bourne was a prominent and affluent citizen whose wealth derived from a lucrative trade he carried on with Native Americans. At his death, Bourne's estate was appraised at £943.1s.4d. Although a domestic form, beakers often were used as communion cups. These beakers appear to have served as models for four other beakers made for the church in the nineteenth century by Lewis Cary.

Artist

Moody Russell

Date

ca. 1719

Medium

Silver

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

The Sylmaris Collection, Gift of George Coe Graves, 1928