Lot Essay
This lot is accompanied by an affidavit from Paul Revere III, a direct descendant of the patriot Paul Revere, attesting to its descent within the Revere family. Paul Revere III was bequeathed the bowl by his great aunt, Margaret A. Revere, of Brookline in her will dated 1984, which cites a "silver footed bowl, 5 1/4 inches diameter, attributed to the Patriot Silversmith, Paul Revere, unmarked, American, c. 1760."
There are numerous examples of unsigned works that can be firmly attributed to Paul Revere. Patricia Kane cites 44 unmarked items attributed to Revere, including six pieces that descended within the Revere family. The six items, now all in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston are: a silver porringer engraved with initials of Paul and Rachel Revere, 1773; a sugar urn and cover, circa 1790; a gold wedding ring and another ring, both belonging to Rachel Walker Revere, circa 1773; a gold miniature frame, circa 1784; and a gold thimble, circa 1805. (All six are illustrated in Kathryn C. Buhler, American Silver 1655-1825 in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, respectively, as nos. 364, 384, 362, 363, 373 and 423.). In addition, an unmarked teapot and sugar urn attributed to Paul Revere, which descended in the Goddard family of Brookline, sold Christie's New York, 17 January 2008, lots 156-157.
There are numerous examples of unsigned works that can be firmly attributed to Paul Revere. Patricia Kane cites 44 unmarked items attributed to Revere, including six pieces that descended within the Revere family. The six items, now all in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston are: a silver porringer engraved with initials of Paul and Rachel Revere, 1773; a sugar urn and cover, circa 1790; a gold wedding ring and another ring, both belonging to Rachel Walker Revere, circa 1773; a gold miniature frame, circa 1784; and a gold thimble, circa 1805. (All six are illustrated in Kathryn C. Buhler, American Silver 1655-1825 in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, respectively, as nos. 364, 384, 362, 363, 373 and 423.). In addition, an unmarked teapot and sugar urn attributed to Paul Revere, which descended in the Goddard family of Brookline, sold Christie's New York, 17 January 2008, lots 156-157.