Pair of Paul Revere, Jr., Silver Casters

Description:

Pair of Paul Revere, Jr., Silver Casters, Boston, 1772, each with bud finial on pierced high-domed friction-fit lid, incised with five vertical panels engraved with a double-lined diamond pattern, cylindrical neck engraved with the crest of a hound courant, associated with Robert Treat Paine, on a pear-shaped body with circular stepped foot, ht. 5 1/2 in., approx. 8 troy oz. total.

Provenance: Robert Treat Paine (March 11, 1731-May 11, 1814),Massachusetts lawyer and politician, prosecutor in the Boston Massacre trial, Massachusetts representative signer of the Declaration of Independence, Massachusetts state's first attorney general, and associate justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court; then by family descent to Charles P. Fisher, then the estate of Charles P. Fisher.

Note: The casters correspond to an entry in Paul Revere's waste book dated January 9, 1772, which records the making and sale of a pair of casters to Robert Treat Paine. Fisher traced the ownership of the casters from the original entry in Revere's book to Robert Treat Paine's probate inventory and through his family line. Unmarked, the casters passed through the family for some years separated from the Revere association until Fisher re-discovered the pair in his mother's pantry. Through comparison of type, style, and weight and investigation of documentary evidence along with comparison to other marked, engraved Revere silver in the family's collection, he was able to confirm that this pair of casters were, in fact, the Revere casters made for R.T. Paine in 1772. Further authentication was provided in 1990 by Janine E. Skerry, Revere authority and then assistant curator at Historic Deerfield, who examined the pieces and confirmed their authenticity, noting that, "there are indeed many pieces of silver made in the shop of Paul Revere which do not bear his mark." The current weight of the casters corresponds to the weight described by Revere in his entry (varying by 3%, a variance that correctly accounts for wear and polishing over the course of 240 years).

Estimate $75,000-150,000

Provenance: Robert Treat Paine, to his daughter Mary who married Rev. Elisha Clapp, dying without issue; to Mary's nephew Charles Cushing Paine or his cousin, astonomer Robert Treat Paine is unclear then at some point to Georgina Paine Fisher Howland, after a time to to Charles Paine Fisher, then estate of Charles Paine Fisher.


The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Condition requests can be obtained via email (lot inquiry button) or by telephone to the appropriate gallery location (Boston/617.350.5400 or Marlborough/508.970.3000). Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Skinner Inc. shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.

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