Lesson Plans
Unit Introduction

Image 19:

Jacob Hurd
American, d. 1758
Teapot, ca. 1740
Silver with wood handle
97.6.3

Historic Deerfield Inc., Deerfield, Massachusetts
Gift of Janette F. Weber in memory of her husband, Frederick C. Weber, Jr., M.D.

Courtesy of Historic Deerfield, Inc.,
Photography by Amanda Merullo

Image 20:

Nathaniel Hurd
American, 1729/30-1777
Cann
Silver
54.457

Historic Deerfield Inc., Deerfield, Massachusetts

Courtesy of Historic Deerfield, Inc.,
Photography by Amanda Merullo

Image 21:

Nathaniel Hurd
American, 1729/30-1777
Teapot
Silver
60.1045

Courtesy, Winterthur Museum

Information:

The teapot in Image 19 was made by Nathaniel Hurd's father, Jacob Hurd. Image 20 is a cann (pronounced; can) made by Nathaniel Hurd. Image 21 is a teapot made by Nathaniel Hurd. We know that is was made by Hurd because it bears his maker's mark. These marks were used by silversmiths so people could distinguish different artists' work. This was especially the case when two artists worked in the same silversmith shop and produced similar items. Both Nathaniel and his brother Benjamin apprenticed in their father, Jacob's silversmith shop until they were skilled enough to work on their own. Apprenticeships were a common way for young men to learn a trade during colonial times. Boys were often apprenticed to a master tradesman for a period for a prescribed period of time to acquire the skills of the trade by watching and working with their experienced master.

Vocabulary:

cann - tulip-shaped mug popular in the 18^th century.

silversmith - one whose occupation is making and repairing articles of silver.

apprenticeship - a common way for young men to learn a trade during colonial times. Boys were often apprenticed to a master tradesman for a prescribed period of time to acquire the skills of the trade by watching and working with their experienced master.

trade - another name for the occupations people had during the colonial era. Usually it required some prior training through an apprenticeship during which time the necessary skills would be learned.

Videos:

Silversmith of Williamsburg: The Extraordinary Work of a Skilled Craftsman.  Colonial Williamsburg Videocassette.  1971 (44 minutes and available in the Teacher Resource Center, MAG).

Suggested Novel:

Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes

Suggested Lesson:

Colonial Trades and Apprenticeships: Silversmiths