An assorted group of seven silver tablewares William Ball (1763-1815), Baltimore, MD, William Ball (1729-1810), Philadelphia, PA, and John Murdock (active 1779-1786), Philadelphia, PA, circa 1750-1760

Comprising a set of four teaspoons by William Ball of Baltimore (1763-1810), circa 1790, with drop to bowl back, handle ends engraved, "JTC," marked; a single coffee spoon by William Ball of Philadelphia (1729-1810), circa 1760, of "Hanoverian" mid-rib form, with shell back, the underside of handle end engraved, "AD," marked; a sugar nips by William Ball of Philadelphia (1729-1810), circa 1750, with cast scrolled arms, shell-form bowls, engraved rosette at central crossing, one arm engraved, "M*R," marked twice, once to each bowl well; and a sugar tongs by John Murdock, circa 1780, with floriate cast arms, shell-form bowls, the end engraved, "TCMT," marked.

W: 2 1/4 in. L: 6 in. (sugar tongs), Total weight: 4.73 oz. t.

Note

William Ball (1729-1810) was both a merchant and silversmith in Philadelphia. Born to William Ball and Mary White of Hope Farm, William, Jr. married Elizabeth Byles, the daughter of the Thomas Byles, a known pewterer.

The William Ball of Philadelphia should not be confused with another silversmith by the same name, William Ball (1763-1815) of Baltimore. He was born in England in 1763, but was recorded as working in Baltimore as early as 1789, and partnered with a few other silversmiths in his lifetime with varied sucess. Ball was also an abolitionist, and even operated a packet line between Baltimore and Alexandria, Virginia. See Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, Collection, Goblet, accession no. 2783.1 for more information.

Little is known about the silversmith John Murdock, who's working dates in Philadelphia are thought to be 1779-1786.

Provenance

Set of four William Ball (1763-1815) teaspoons: Jonathan & J. William Inslee Antique & Sterling Silver, Downingtown, Pennsylvania, September 25, 2016

William Ball (1729-1810) sugar nips: Jonathan Trace, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, November 18, 2015

John Murdock sugar tongs: Jonathan Trace, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, November 9, 2017