A six-piece coin silver repoussé tea and coffee service Isaac Reed & Son (active c. 1830-1850), Philadelphia, PA, circa 1840

Comprising two coffeepots, a teapot, a covered sugar dish, a creamer, and a waste bowl; decorated with floral and rocaille motifs, each engraved with monogram, "MW," the underside of each engraved with succession of owners: "Valerie L. Quam. September 8, 2007/ Charlotte Kenner. April 2nd, 1857/ Lilian M. Jones. December 5th, 1889/ Phoebe W. Adams. April 5th, 1915/ Phebe McKean Sargent. March 22, 1951," all marked "I. Reed & Son" and "Philad."

H: 10 1/2 in. W: 11 1/2 in. D: 5 1/2 in. (coffeepots), Total weight: 140.025 oz. t.

Note

Edwin M. Stanton presented this tea and coffee service to Charlotte Kenner and George J. Harding (1827-1902) on their wedding date, revealed in the will of George and Charlotte's daughter, Bella Harding Scratchley. George Harding was a patent lawyer who argued cases before the Supreme Court, including McCormick v. Manny, which involved his colleague Stanton and even Abraham Lincoln, then a lawyer in Illinois. Harding also built a hotel in the Catskills, Hotel Kaaterskill, which became known as a "spite hotel," the reason for which was an incident at a friend's mountain resort. Harding's request for broiled chicken for his sick daughter was denied because of the resort's inflexible dinner rules, so he purchased his own plot of land on which he would build his hotel.

Provenance

Charlotte Kenner (1839-1890) and George J. Harding (1827-1902),

Thence by descent in the Harding family to the present consignor, with presumed succession below:

Lilian M. Jones

Phoebe W. Adams

Phebe McKean Sargent

Valerie L. Quam