An assembled Classical sterling silver tea service thomas fletcher, sidney gardiner and anthony rasch, philadelphia, pa, circa 1815

A very high style service including a hot water pot, teapot, covered sugar bowl, waste bowl and creamer. The form is a rectangular body on a plain pedestal and a rectangular plinth raised on winged lion head and claw feet. The lids have cast rose and leaf finials; a thin star chased band at the top; and a rose and leaf midband on stiple, line and plain fields, this is mirrored on the edge of the plinths. The pot spouts are paneled and round terminating in vigorous eagle head tips and the handles are square, reeded "C" mahogany handles terminating in cornucopia mountings. The creamer has a loop handle with bearded mask head and the waste bowl and sugar bowl have twin "U" shaped handles, grape bunch and two bird head ends below which is a cast ram's head and shell. The teapot and creamer are by Fletcher and Gardiner; the covered sugar bowl and waste bowl are by Anthony Rasch; and the hot water pot is unmarked.

H: 10 1/2 in. (hot water pot) Total weight: 171 troy oz.

Otto graduated from Princeton in 1792 and from the Univeristy of Pennsylvania in 1796. He was the first modern physician to write about hemophilia, publishing "An Account of an Hemorrhagic Disposition in Certain Families," in 1803. He succeeded Dr. Benjamin Rush as physician and clinical lecturer of the Pennsylvania Hospital and held the position for 21 years. Dr. Otto was well known throughout the United States and revered in Philadelphia. He served as physician to the Philadelphia Orphan Asylum and worked to establish sanitary measures and hospitals throughout the city during epidemics. Otto married Elizabeth Tod, daughter of prominent Philadelphia merchant, Alexander Tod in December of 1802.

Provenance: This tea service belonged to Dr John Conrad Otto (1774-1844) of Philadelphia, the son of Dr. Bodo Otto, Senior Surgeon of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.

Descended in the family to the present owner.