For Those with an Interest in the Irish Silver Trade

For information you'd like to share - Post it here - not for questions
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59003
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: For Those with an Interest in the Irish Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

SILVER CRADLE PRESENTED TO THE MAYORESS OF BELFAST


Image


SILVER CRADLE

Lady Cowan, wife of Sir Edward Porter Cowan, Mayor of Belfast, has been presented by the members of the Corporation with a Silver Cradle upon the birth of a son during Sir Edward's second year of Mayoralty. The cradle was designed and manufactured by the Goldsmiths' and Silversmiths' Company, of Regent-street, London. Its form, as shown in our engraving, is that of an antique canoe, upheld, fast enough, by a stem in the shape of a bell, which is perhaps to signify "Belfast." The silver plateau beneath, thirty-six inches long, bears two seated figures, Commerce and Industry, supporting the Bell. At the ends are fruit dishes, with a figure standing in the centre of each. The arms of Belfast, and those of the Mayor, are engraved on this handsome piece of plate.


Source: The Illustrated London News - 2nd December 1882

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59003
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: For Those with an Interest in the Irish Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

EDMUND JOHNSON COURT CASE

Dublin


The Judge Says Britain Ought to Pay Bourke's Fare to America

A cable dispatch received last week from Dublin announced that the case of Edward Thomas de Burgh Bourke, of Buffalo, N. Y., charged under an extradition warrant with stealing diamond studs from Edmond Johnson, the Dublin jeweler, came for trial Friday. There were two counts in the indictment, one for larceny, the other for false pretence in issuing checks without funds to meet them. The latter charge was abandoned and the jury threw out the bill for larceny. Judge Andrews directed that Bourke be discharged and said the government ought to pay his expenses back to America, an opinion that was cheered by the spectators.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 2nd November 1892

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59003
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: For Those with an Interest in the Irish Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

OLD SHEFFIELD PLATE

A recent decision of the courts in a case tried at Belfast should be of interest to American purchasers of antiques, particularly "old Sheffield plate" or "Sheffield plate."

The prosecutor, acting with the support and of the Cutlers company and the Sheffield Master Silversmiths' association, brought a series of six summonses against a dealer in Belfast, complaining that "he did apply to certain articles a false trade description, namely 'old
Sheffield plate or 'Sheffield plate', contrary to the merchandise act of 1887."

The case establishes the point that the term "old Sheffield plate" or "Sheffield plate" implies vessels made of copper and coated with silver by means of fusion. This process was the precursor of electroplating, and died about seventy years ago. Very little ware is produced in Sheffield by this method today. Fine specimens of genuine Sheffield plate bring fancy prices, and at the trial It was stated that large quantities of both the real and the counterfeit are bought by Americans.

The articles in question were shown to he electro-plate on copper by a process patented about the year 1853. None of the articles was Sheffield plate, Sheffield plated or old Sheffield plate, and did not come from Sheffield. The magistrates considered the offenses clearly proven.


Source: Consular Report - March 1912

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59003
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: For Those with an Interest in the Irish Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

Victor Cohen, a Swiss travelling jeweller, was on Tuesday committed for trial at Dublin on various charges of forgery on the Royal Bank of Ireland. The amount of the forgeries is stated to be about £30,000.

Source: The Cambrian - 1st May 1874

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59003
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: For Those with an Interest in the Irish Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

IRISH BULLION Co.

Dublin


Examples of silver tokens issued by the Irish Bullion Co. around 1804:

Image

'Confidence Augments The Value' - A female seated on a hillock, holding the model of a ship in her hands. In the exergue, within an oval, IB Co.


Two of the above examples of one shilling tokens appear to be hallmarked with the Crowned Harp and Hibernia:

Image

Perhaps this may be the mark registered with the Dublin Assay Office of the Irish Bullion Co.?:

Image
IBCo

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59003
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: For Those with an Interest in the Irish Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

Image
Corporation of Gold and Silversmiths in Ireland - Dublin - 1908

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59003
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: For Those with an Interest in the Irish Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

IRISH FREE STATE TARIFFS - 1932


Image

Source: The Financial Times - 10th October 1932

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59003
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: For Those with an Interest in the Irish Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

An 1897 advertisement from Colonel Philip D. Vigors, a keen antiquarian, requesting information on Irish Church Plate:

Image

Col. Vigors was editor of "The Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead, Ireland".

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59003
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: For Those with an Interest in the Irish Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

An Irish silver moustache spoon by Philip Weekes, assayed at Dublin in 1831 and also struck with the retailer's mark of Jacob of Dublin, measuring 8½" (218mm) in length:

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
JACOB/DUBLIN - PW - Dublin - 1831

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59003
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: For Those with an Interest in the Irish Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

CORK CAMERA CLUB PLAQUE - 1944


Cork Camera Club plaque for Open Class, won by J.A. Bell:

Image

Image

Image
J·A·R·Ltd. - Birmingham - 1939

The plaque was manufactured by J.A. Restall Ltd. and assayed at Birmingham in 1939.

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59003
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: For Those with an Interest in the Irish Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

Post-Brexit rules and regulations relating to hallmarking, and in particular to the Republic of Ireland:

As from 1st January 2021, British silversmiths selling into the Republic of Ireland should note that there are no exemption weights and therefore every article will require a Convention Mark before being accepted for sale in the country from the UK.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hallmarking ... b-73284026

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59003
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: For Those with an Interest in the Irish Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

MEDALS OF THE IRISH VOLUNTEERS


Image

Image

These illustrations were published in 1907 from the collection of the Cork antiquarian, Robert Day F.S.A.

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59003
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: For Those with an Interest in the Irish Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

A silver cradle, in the form of a canoe, resting on a silver centre, has been presented to Sir Edward and Lady Cowan, the Mayor and Mayoress of Belfast. The cost of the present amounts to about £300, and it is given in accordance with a custom of the city, a son having been born to his worship during his year of office.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller, and Silversmith - 5th December 1882

The cradle was designed and manufactured by the Goldsmiths' and Silversmiths' Company, of Regent Street, London.

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59003
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: For Those with an Interest in the Irish Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

THE GREAT MACE AND CIVIC SWORD RETURNING HOME

The Great Mace and Civic Sword of the city of Galway, Ireland, are to be returned after a lapse of more than 100 years.

The Mace and Sword, both considered fine examples of the craft of the Irish silversmith, were acquired by the late William Randolph Hearst in 1935. In 1938, they were sent to Mr. Hearst’s home in San Simeon, Calif. Now they are being returned by the Hearst Corporation.

The Mace and Sword passed into private hands in 1840 — when it was found that the Mayor, Edmund Blake of Furlough Castle, was owed a considerable sum in arrears of salary. As there were no funds available, he was given the Mace and Sword in discharge of the debt.


Source: The Sunday Star - 4th December 1960

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59003
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: For Those with an Interest in the Irish Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

THE WORKING GOLDSMITHS' AND JEWELLERS' ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND

The inaugural meeting of the above body was held on Friday last, at their rooms in Marlborough Street in this city ; Mr. John O'Clohessy presiding.

The rules for the future government of the association and explanatory of its objects, as prepared by the committee appointed for that purpose, were unanimously adopted. One of the rules provides for a benevolent fund in aid of distressed and enfeebled members.

This trade here had its guild or corporation established by royal charter many centuries back, and had its Goldsmiths' Hall in Golden Lane (whence it takes its name), and is at present carried on at the Custom House. Its privileges include the right to assay and stamp all gold and silver articles manufactured in Ireland (there being only three cities in the empire equally privileged); also the right to mulct by heavy fines any persons assuming the style and title of goldsmiths, &c, without being legally entitled thereto. As a consequence of the modern violation of this right by parties having no connection with the trade, the present association has had to adopt the prefix, "Working Goldsmiths,'' etc., in order that the public should understand their position in trade ; and it has been formed on the broadest possible basis, in order the better, not only to promote the individual welfare of its members, but also that which is of vital importance — the extension and development of the trade in Ireland.

For the ensuing twelve months the following officers were elected: — Mr. J. O'Clohessy, President; Mr. Oman, Vice-president ; and Mr. Gilmore, Hon. Sec. ; with a Committee of seven.

A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.


Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller, and Silversmith - 5th December 1884

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59003
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: For Those with an Interest in the Irish Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

Hall Marks on Irish Silver

At an earlier period in Ireland’s history, the precious metals, silver particularly, was found in considerable quantities, and ancient historians describe the ornaments of silver and gold with which the chieftains and the female members of their families adorned themselves. The silversmith’s art was consequently no stranger to the emerald isle, and as late as the latter part of the 16th and beginning of the 17th century, Dublin boasted numerous gold and silversmiths.

It is recorded, in the municipal records of the city, that by some of the tradesmen questionable practices had been adopted. As in the case of the German silver manufacturing cities, some of the masters had taken to working in baser metals, and, as there were no guilds to control them, as in the German cities, the corporation took the subject under consideration.

The result was the issue of an ordinance to the effect that every goldsmith or silversmith working in the city should have a special stamp, whereby his work could be identified. The plate of standard purity was to bear a second stamp, showing figures of a lion, a harp and a castle. As far as known, there is no piece of plate in existence bearing such a hall mark, nor is this surprising. In the troublous’ times through which Ireland has passed, impecunious owners of such articles found it easy to have them melted down into bullion and transformed into cash.

It is a significant fact that although the Company of Goldsmiths of the City of Dublin was incorporated and chartered in 1617, articles bearing their hall mark are not to be found. Nevertheless, since the year 1605, a maker’s mark and a town mark have been in existence, and articles of silver and gold were regularly hall marked at that period.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 6th December 1916

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59003
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: For Those with an Interest in the Irish Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

The badge of the new Leopardstown Park Club is a shamrock in silver, with the letters L. P. on it, attached to a green ribbon, and yet strange though true, the national emblem was not entrusted to an Irish firm perfectly competent though any one of them would be to carry out the work, but the order was entrusted to an English firm of silversmiths. This seems hardly fair, and the matter deserves consideration and explanation. If Dublin could not do the work, well and good. If Dublin could do the work Dublin tradesmen should have been employed. We admit a superabundant number of " Dublins," but they are necessary to draw attention.

Source: Irish Society - 4th August 1888

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59003
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: For Those with an Interest in the Irish Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

THE IRISH EXHIBITION - OLYMPIA - 1888

A curiosity among curiosities is the massive silver mace of the Corporation of Athy, presented to that civic body in 1747, by James Earl of Kildare, and returned by purchase to, the Leinster family soon after the abolition of the municipality. Among the other contributors to this unique and valuable collection are, his Excellency the Marquis of Londonderry, Sir Edward Cecil Guinness, and many of the Irish nobility. Some rare specimens are forwarded by the eminent antiquarian of Cork, Mr. Day.

Source: Irish Society - 26th May 1888

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59003
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: For Those with an Interest in the Irish Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

A very large and beautiful pearl is reported to have been recently found by a man in the River Bann, near Armagh. It was sent to Mr. S. Waterhouse, of Dublin, who pronounced it the finest Irish pearl which he had seen, and he sent a cheque for a liberal amount. Mr. Waterhouse had not the pearl more than a couple of days in his possession until its value was recognised by a London dealer, to whom he sold it. Perhaps Mr. Waterhouse would kindly favor us with a few more particulars.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st September 1892

Trev.
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59003
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: For Those with an Interest in the Irish Silver Trade

Post by dognose »

Extradition. — Towards the end of last summer a man of the name of C. T. Burke alias C. T. De Burgh, of Galway, spent some time in Dublin, representing himself to be a man of property. He had numerous transactions with business men, including Mr. Edmond Johnson, jeweler, Grafton Street, Dublin. The latter gentleman, however, on one occasion missed a set of diamond studs, value £30, from his private office after one of the visits. Subsequently Burke made numerous visits round town, and purchased over £200 worth of goods, tendering in payment cheques, which the Ulster Bank were unfortunately unable to honor. Burke, however, left the city before the unpleasant fact could be made known, and sailed to America, where he has been extradited. A great deal of interest is exhibited in the case as the prisoner is well defended.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st November 1892

Trev.
Post Reply

Return to “Contributors' Notes”