Bowl

Peter Vergereau is probably the individual born into New York City’s French community and baptised at the Église Françoise à la Nouvelle York on August 21, 1700. He was granted freeman status in 1721, which would have been the logical time for him to begin practicing his craft after an average apprenticeship. Vergereau was married in 1737, rather late in life, to Susana(h) Boudinot, sister of silversmith Elias Boudinot (1706 – 1770).1 Although his career lasted for some thirty years, few works bearing his mark are known. Nevertheless, this small body of silver proves that he was a talented silversmith and engraver who made forms ranging from tablespoons to tankards and including salvers, saucepans, and this commodious bowl.

Bowls such as this were based upon Chinese porcelain forms. Despite the modest size, it was probably intended as a punch bowl. It is unadorned except for the owner’s initials. Vessels of similar size were fashioned by New York silversmiths Myer Myers, Thauvet Besley, Bartholomew Le Roux II, and Cornelius Wynkoop, to mention only a few, as well as by Boston craftsmen such as John Coney (cat. no. 32) and Jacob Hurd (cat. no. 86). The best-known example in a larger size is the Sons of Liberty bowl made by Paul Revere in 1768, which stands about 51/2 inches (14 cm) tall and measures 11 inches (28 cm) in diameter.

This text has been adapted from "Silver of the Americas, 1600-2000," edited by Jeannine Falino and Gerald W.R. Ward, published in 2008 by the MFA. Complete references can be found in that publication.