Highly important Philadelphia three piece pewter communion service dated 1765 to include a flagon bearing the touch of William Will, and a chalice and paten attributed to William Will, the flagon (12" h.) with a flame finial, above a dome lid with a teapot hinge, the tapering neck with applied spurred handle and bulbous body, inscribed "Matthias Culp 1765 Vor die Reformirte Gemein In Heitelberg (For the reformed congregation in Heidelberg), the chalice (7 1/2" h.) with a swelled knop and stepped base, bearing a similar inscription "Mat Culp Vor die Reformirte Gemein in Heitelberg", the unusual salver form paten (9" dia.) with a gadrooned border and zigzag engraved embelishment often used by Will, bearing the inscription "Mat Culp Vor den Gebrauch der Reformirten Gemein in Heitelberg". the paten also boasts the use of ball and claw feet, a practice only known to have been used in America by William Will. This service is illustrated and discussed extensively in Donald Herr,
Pewter in Pennsylvania German Churches.
Condition
Paten - warped. Chalice and flagon - good condition, no apparent damages or repairs.