Vincent Laforme Pair of Antique Coin Silver Sauce Boats, Boston, MA, 1865

Classic design and decoration create these stunning sauce or gravy boats. Applied 'C'- scroll handles have leaf thumb pieces. Bold applied feet are formed with stepped pad feet and bold shell decoration. The plain, oval, elongated bodies with shaped edges have beautiful, reflective surfaces and long extending spouts. The undersides are engraved:C.E Richards

 Charlotte Elizabeth Richards married Henry Pickering Walcott on May 31, 1865. These sauce boats were most likely a wedding gift from Charlotte's new in-laws Captain Charles Folsom Walcott and Anna Morrill Wyman Walcott. (1)

Intensely proud of their colonial and revolutionary heritage, 19th-century Bostonians never completely let go of colonial design. In fact, these sauce boats closely resemble ones made by Paul Revere, Jr., the Patriot, about 100 years earlier. While colonial designs would become fashionable again late in the century, some Bostonians chose these designs earlier before (or after) they were in fashion, such as in the 1830s (see here) or about 1865, as seen in these wonderful pieces.

Vincent Laforme, son of a German immigrant silversmith, ran a small shop in Boston during the mid-19th century using only hand-powered tools. Most of his work is very well made, showing sophisticated design. He did not achieve the critical mass to compete against the larger factories, such as Gorham, that were turning to power machinery and work with his mark is rarely seen today.

Provenance: Dr. Henry P. & Charlotte E. (Richards) Wolcott
George & Lilla E. (Nickerson) Wolcott
J. Sterling & Charlotte E. (Wolcott) Davis
J. Sterling & Marjorie K. (Jones) Davis

These outstanding sauce boats are marked underneath by the Boston retailer ‘CROSBY & MORSE/ COIN/ BOSTON,’ and Laforme’s gothic ‘L’ and spread eagle marks. They measure 8 inches across the handles and spouts by 4.25 inches deep by 4.75 inches high to the top of the handles, weigh a combined 24.50 troy ounces, and are in excellent antique condition.

Endnote:

1. Documentation from the family provided with sauce boats.