Figure 3.––Mark of Samuel Minott and monogram of Elias Hasket Derby on silver tankard. Bequest of Arthur Michaels. In Division of Cultural History. (Acc. 162866, cat. 383545; Smithsonian photos 44828-D, 44828-F.)
A silver tankard made by Samuel Minott, who worked in Boston from about 1765 to 1803, can be accurately placed by the account of ownership thoughtfully inscribed on its base by one of its later owners. The legend reads:
Richard Derby to E. S. Hasket Derby 1763
John Derby
George Derby 1831
Roger Derby 1874
The tankard has a tapered, ringed body, an S-shaped handle with a plain boss at the end, a scroll thumb-piece, a flat molded drop ornament on the handle, and a domed cover with an acorn finial. On the body beneath the Derby coat of arms, is monogrammed “E H D” for Elias Hasket Derby ([fig. 3]). Elias Hasket Derby achieved wealth and fame as a Salem merchant prince engaged in the China trade.
Similar in design to these 18th-century pieces is a standing cup[3] or chalice with the inscription:
Presented by the Sisters of the New South Church for its communion service––January 1, 1815.
This cup, with a concave body and a baluster stem with a square foot, is marked “Moulton” and is in the style of Ebenezer Moulton who worked in Boston between 1768 and 1824.