pitcher

This pitcher was engraved by William Morse, an engraver for the Hawkes company from about 1903 until his death in 1921. Thomas Hawkes, the founder of the company, died in 1913 and this was probably commissioned as a memorial shortly after his death. The engraving on the reverse is the Hawkes family coat of arms. William Morse was born in Corning in the 1880’s and trained as an engraver by H.W. Fritchie in 1901-1903 when he was in his mid-teens. He was one of the best engravers in the area by 1910 and it was natural that Samuel Hawkes should choose him to create the portrait of his father. The pitcher remained in the showroom of the Hawkes firm until after it closed in 1962 and was then sold to a private collector.