West Indies interest: A rare mid-18th century Jamaican silver coffee pot

West Indies interest: A rare mid-18th century Jamaican silver coffee pot,

by Geradus Stoutenburgh, assay master A. Danvers, circa 1760,

tapering circular form, scroll handle, decorated in the Rococo manner with shells, scroll, maidens, and animals, above a castle and building scene with a fisherman in the foreground, domed hinged cover, leaf capped spout, the body with two cartouches, each engraved with a later crest, on a raised circular foot, height 27.5cm, approx. weight 40.7oz.

Provenance: purchased from Koopman, Sept 1992,

Although 18th century Jamaican silver is rare, it is thought that at least twenty-three goldsmiths were working there in the mid-18th century. By this time there was concern that substandard articles were being produced. An act was passed and there was the introduction of an assay master. The first master was Charles Wood, and he was replaced in 1749 by Anthony Danvers. Danvers is thought to have come from Liverpool, and it is thought he died in Kingston in 1772. The practice of assay marking appears to have stopped by about 1765.

Geradus Stoutenburgh may have originally come from New York.

Ref: Robert B. Barker, The Proceedings of the Silver Society, 'Jamaican Goldsmiths, Assayers and their marks from 1665 to1775, Vo. 3, no.5, 1986.