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Welcome Home, Paca Canns!

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Two rare 18th century silver drinking vessels (called “canns”), crafted for William Paca and Mary Chew Paca, were recently acquired by Historic Annapolis and the Maryland Center for History and Culture. First associated with the William Paca House and Garden when the Pacas were married 262 years ago and began the construction of their town house in downtown Annapolis, these treasured artifacts serve as a tangible connection to the period of our nation’s beginnings.   

We were delighted to recently celebrate the homecoming of the canns with a special reception for our donors to our acquisition fund, where we were also joined by Mr. and Mrs. Paca, Denby, and several colonial friends (interpreted by the Annapolis Living Historians). Thank you to all who supported this effort for our preservation community!

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If these canns could talk! They would tell us that they passed down nine generations of Pacas, into a private collection, and then were auctioned as part of Americana Week at Sotheby’s International in January 2025. These objects are significant not only due to the Paca connection, but also for what they represent from an interpretive perspective. They serve as a vehicle for telling a broader story– how they were used by the elite, how they were cared for by the enslaved people who labored in Paca’s home, and how they were crafted by 18th century silversmiths. Items such as these help to illuminate the complex stories of all who lived and worked in houses like the Paca House.  And HA received the canns, fittingly, on Valentine’s Day, a symbolic reminder of all the love and support we received to make this happen. (Watch our unboxing video here!)

Special thanks to the Maryland Center for History and Culture for partnering with Historic Annapolis to ensure these objects return home to Maryland and the William Paca House, and to our donors, docents, volunteers, and members who made this acquisition possible.

Please visit us at the William Paca House, opening for the summer season next Wednesday, March 19, 2025, to see these two beauties in person and hear their fascinating story.