Museum Collections

This creamer is part of a four-piece tea set was retailed by William Garret Forbes, a prolific silversmith active from 1773 to 1809. In addition to Forbes's name clearly stamped on the underside of the vessels, three of the four pieces bear additional marks of a wheat sheaf and an eagle's head, which indicate the work of Teunis D. DuBois and Joseph DuBois, respectively. The brothers became partners in June 1795 and produced silver both for their own customers and for retailers. Surviving account books kept by Teunis confirm that he maintained a thriving business on his own after 1797 providing New York City silversmiths, jewelers, and merchants with a steady supply of wares for stock. This tea set belonged to Mary Elizabeth Goad Bedlow and John Beekman, who married in 1792. Each piece is engraved with Mary's initials on one side and the Beekman family arms on the other, representing an alliance of the two families.