Boston, Bigelow Bros. & Kennard, c. 1849. Very rare American coin silver seven bottle cruet set from Boston. This superbly designed cruet set exudes the confident spirit of late classical American design. Of oval form, the body supports a fluid, foliate casting with hanging foliage and flowers which flows into repousse cartouches, one enclosing the engraved family name "Beals," the other, "1849." The central handle shows the renaissance influence becoming prevalent at mid-century with strapwork and beading. This masterpiece rests on four bold feet mixing the acanthus leaves of classical design with the strapwork of the renaissance. The seven original bottles are cut glass and retain their original fitted lids.
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Provenance: Significantly, this important piece of Americana has never been out of the family until now, having descended in the Beals family of Boston, who married into the Boit Family of Brookline (immortalized in John Singer Sargent's masterpiece The Daughters of Edward Boit now at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston), and the Blake family of Wenham, MA.
Condition: Excellent - a few chips to the original bottles.
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