His initial mark -- shown in Hollan's Philadelphia -- is A • S
Search found 539 matches
- Thu Apr 11, 2024 8:38 pm
- Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
- Topic: Unknown mark SA on colonial teaspoon
- Replies: 19
- Views: 4544
- Thu Apr 11, 2024 7:39 pm
- Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
- Topic: Unknown mark SA on colonial teaspoon
- Replies: 19
- Views: 4544
Re: Unknown mark SA on colonial teaspoon
Alexander was several times bankrupt after the short-lived partnership c 1796-1797, with Wiltberger. Failing in a shop of his own, he worked for Anthony Simmons before formally becoming his partner in Simmons & Alexander, c 1804-1808. Sometime after he moved to Richmond VA, likely to escape his ...
- Mon Apr 08, 2024 8:29 pm
- Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
- Topic: Unknown mark SA on colonial teaspoon
- Replies: 19
- Views: 4544
Re: Unknown mark SA on colonial teaspoon
Neither Alford or Allardice are mentioned in Hollan's Philadelphia, nor any makers with the initials SA.
That form of foliate back (from what I can make out in the image) was more popular in Boston c 1775-1790. That said, I do not have any likely candidate to offer.
That form of foliate back (from what I can make out in the image) was more popular in Boston c 1775-1790. That said, I do not have any likely candidate to offer.
- Wed Feb 28, 2024 9:44 pm
- Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
- Topic: Unknown Maker Coin Silver(?) Sugar Spoon
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1612
Re: Unknown Maker Coin Silver(?) Sugar Spoon
The wholesale marks are Joseph Seymour & Company of Syracuse NY. They were one of the major bulk manufacturers of silver flatware and held several design patents. D. D. R. Ormsby of Homer NY is known to have been one of their retail customers.
The obscured center design is a capital S
The obscured center design is a capital S
- Mon Jan 01, 2024 11:55 pm
- Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
- Topic: Embossed Peacock on Bowl of Spoon?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1419
Re: Embossed Peacock on Bowl of Spoon?
It is called a Dove of Peace. There are many variations (this a particularly nice one), but no one has done a real image survey, so without a maker's mark, it will be luck matching it with a known smith's swage.
- Fri Nov 03, 2023 9:02 pm
- Forum: General Questions
- Topic: Why are there so many unmarked coin silver pieces ?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1932
Re: Why are there so many unmarked coin silver pieces ?
From the late 1820s on, silver flatware was being produced at factory level for sale to retailers across the eastern seaboard and the midwest. Such goods were often unmarked, left to be stamped by the ultimate seller with his name. For many, it was not worth the time and expense to purchase a suitab...
- Mon Oct 16, 2023 1:56 pm
- Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
- Topic: Coffin teaspoon marked JT ?
- Replies: 2
- Views: 1201
Re: Coffin teaspoon marked JT ?
Winterthur has a similar coffin spoon with this mark recorded as unknown maker. There is some speculation that it may be Jonathan Trott Jr. working in New London CT c. 1800-1813.
- Tue Sep 26, 2023 10:56 pm
- Forum: American Sterling & Coin Silver - Single Image
- Topic: Help with J.H. & A. Benedict tongs?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2097
Re: Help with J.H. & A. Benedict tongs?
The tongs were manufactured by the wholesale firm of Hall & Hewson in Albany NY. The pair of Benedicts, likely father and son, were retail jewelers in Skaneateles NY. The senior, J. H., had been the partner of Asa Munger, c 1818-1820 in Auburn NY.
- Wed Aug 02, 2023 10:39 am
- Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
- Topic: Coffin End Spoon
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2924
Re: Coffin End Spoon
I did a quick sort of my records and found around 150 examples: arch, engraved coffin, engraved crescent, engraved oval, engraved pointed arch, engraved pointed arch, wigglework engraved pointed arch, two line engraved pointed, wigglework engraved pointed, engraved pointed, roulette engraved pointed...
- Wed Aug 02, 2023 10:09 am
- Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
- Topic: Coffin End Spoon
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2924
Re: Coffin End Spoon
Incised drops are not as common on American spoons as swaged drops, but are not uncommon, either. In my collection, they number around 15%. They are in a variety of forms -- arch, pointed arch, spade, oval, crescent, coffin, square, etc. by many different makers from the 1790s to the 1850s. Interest...
- Wed Apr 12, 2023 2:07 pm
- Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
- Topic: S Kirk & Son Small Bowl Purpose
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1635
Re: S Kirk & Son Small Bowl Purpose
Missing its glass liner
- Tue Apr 04, 2023 5:58 pm
- Forum: Sterling Manufacturers ~ American after-1860
- Topic: Champagne sterling bucket
- Replies: 17
- Views: 3825
Re: Champagne sterling bucket
The incuse JBA and 925 are definitely punched over existing incised marks. The handles are stylistically too heavy and poorly integrated into the design. Compare the carefully raised/engraved acanthus leaves (likely the only original decoration) on the base with those above, which are inferior in un...
- Fri Mar 10, 2023 11:34 am
- Forum: Provincial & Colonial Marks
- Topic: Sugar Tongs Marks
- Replies: 2
- Views: 1574
Re: Sugar Tongs Marks
American. W&B would be the retail seller. The three marks are an unidentified, but very prolific New York City wholesale manufacturer.
- Sat Feb 18, 2023 11:47 am
- Forum: Mystery Objects
- Topic: Mystery Item
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4425
Re: Mystery Item
I agree; that does seem the likeliest idea, given the monogram and the orientation of the marks on the neck.dragonflywink wrote: ↑Sat Feb 18, 2023 8:27 am Are you sure it opens? Looks to me like the stopper for a bottle or decanter...
~Cheryl
- Fri Feb 17, 2023 6:32 pm
- Forum: Mystery Objects
- Topic: Mystery Item
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4425
Re: Mystery Item
Might be way off, but my grandmother had a similarly shaped item in porcelain. Under the cap was a sponge for moistening postage stamps. If it is that, it would explain why the lid is stuck on.
- Thu Feb 09, 2023 1:27 pm
- Forum: American Sterling & Coin Silver - Single Image
- Topic: Gould Stowell Ward
- Replies: 9
- Views: 2758
Re: Gould Stowell Ward
Per Hollan's Philadelphia Established in 1837. The 1850 Mercantile Census reported they were making $35,000 worth of silverware a year. They established a larger factory in 1852 and continued producing wholesale goods into the 1870s. Advertised in 1857 they had manufactured goods for Bailey & Ki...
- Wed Feb 08, 2023 11:46 am
- Forum: American Sterling & Coin Silver - Single Image
- Topic: Gould Stowell Ward
- Replies: 9
- Views: 2758
Re: Gould Stowell Ward
Are you saying the three marks on your spoon do not match the ones Silverly posted, which are the well-established wholesale marks of Taylor & Lawrie?
- Tue Feb 07, 2023 5:06 pm
- Forum: American Sterling & Coin Silver - Single Image
- Topic: Gould Stowell Ward
- Replies: 9
- Views: 2758
Re: Gould Stowell Ward
To answer your initial question, yes. Gould, Stowell & Ward were watchmakers and merchant jewelers, buying in silver goods from wholesale makers. The firm only existed from 1855 to February 1857, when Abel Stowell left to open his own shop.
- Mon Dec 19, 2022 10:08 pm
- Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
- Topic: AEW Lidded silver dish
- Replies: 5
- Views: 3020
Re: AEW Lidded silver dish
Yes, that is Warner's mark. The queen's head/D is a Baltimore standard mark
Warner
Warner
- Fri Dec 09, 2022 5:14 pm
- Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
- Topic: Gorham coin silver (?) cup/chalice
- Replies: 2
- Views: 2161
Re: Gorham coin silver (?) cup/chalice
There were many German-American societies during most of the 19th century. These sorts of commemorative pieces are not uncommon, though many more were probably disposed of when affiliation with Germany became unpopular. The mark shown was adopted in 1863. Gorham did not switch to only using sterling...