Tuckerman family porringer, Arthur Stone,

Gardner, MA circa 1921, Craftsman Arthur Hartwell, length 7 3/4 inches across the handle, weight 9.51 Troy ounces, some scratches as shown in fourth enlargement but very good overall condition.

Let's answer the most obvious question first: Is this the same family whose name graces a certain ravine in New Hampshire's White Mountains which is beloved by back country skiers in search of an adrenaline rush? Yes indeed it is. Edward Tuckerman, Jr., a lichen expert for whom it was named, was the cousin of Herbert Sears Tuckerman.

Herbert himself was a colorful character. Born into Boston and the North Shore's high society, after attending Harvard he went on to a decorated military career during the Second World War (he personally took Nazi interior minister Wilhelm Frick prisoner. Frick was later hanged.), and rubbed elbows with his commanding officer and family friend General George Patton. His grandfather Herbert Sears Tuckerman, who gave this splendid silver gift (see third enlargement) was the wealthiest man in Boston during the 1930s. A longtime political office holder and operative, his son Richard said of Tuckerman ""He taught me three things: how to hold a golf club, how to shoot a shotgun, and how to vote Republican. I don't do any of them anymore."

Tuckerman's 2007 in The Boston Globe is so thoroughly amusing that we've reproduced a copy (please see fifth enlargement). Compare with a similar though substantially lighter example on the Big Bad Auction Site (item 144380706975) @509.00