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This list is intended to
suggest a range of good references for
beginners' libraries on silver. Each person
will have her/his own interests and will
develop a library to match, but these books
have been chosen by members of the Silver
Salon Forums to provide a wide-ranging
foundation for the average person. The focus
here on books dealing with the silver of
Britain and the United States reflects both
the majority audience of the SSF and the
emphases of the English-language
publications. For more extensive and
specialized listings see the main Silver Library pages.
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International Hallmarks
- Tardy. International Hallmarks on
Silver. South Croydon, UK:
Collectors Publications, 2005. 552 pp., ill.
A reprint of the 2002 edition, this book is
certainly the most informative for identifying
international hallmarks. Marks are organized by
country, although the English translation
preserves the organization of the original
French, and the order will not be immediately
intuitive to the English-language reader. Until
the reader becomes familiar with the book, the
index will be necessary for locating passages on
particular countries. The book provides thousands
of known official and standard markings,
representing numerous locales. All major
manufacturing countries are included, as well as
many more obscure nations. Significant dates are
provided for changes in marking policies, thereby
often allowing the reader to identify a timeframe
for pieces in question. An analytical index of
marks at the end of the book displays each of the
marks organized by type, so that the reader may
easily locate the marks found on a piece (human
profile, figure, animal figure, architectural
structure, etc.). Also available, in French only,
is a volume on gold and platinum marks
Poinçons d'or et de platine.
--
OR --
Jan Diviš, Jan. Guide to Silver
Marks of the World. London: Deacon
House, 1992, 1994; translation from the 1976
Prague edition. 246pp., ill. This book is
somewhat stronger than Tardy for marks from
eastern Europe, and because the organization is
by appearance of the marks (like the analytical
index in Tardy) it lacks the alphabetical
peculiarities of Tardy's entries. But Tardy shows
many more variants of marks, has better coverage
of non-European nations, and has better
descriptive histories of marking in different
countries.
British Silver
- Clayton, Michael. The Collector's
Dictionary of the Silver and Gold of Great
Britain and North America. New York:
World Publishing and London: Hamlyn Group, both
1971. 351 pp., 48 colour plates, over 700 B&W
photos, over 100 line drawings. This book is
a comprehensive encyclopedic dictionary of silver
and gold in Great Britain and North America from
1180 to 1880 and is an essential reference book
for both collector and scholar. Entries in the
dictionary generally fall within the following
categories: types of object, names of the
craftsman, styles of design and decoration, and
techniques of manufacture. Helpful cross
references are provided in many entries that make
the search for related information effortless.
A.G. Grimwade notes in his foreword to this book
that it is the 'matter-of-factness' that sets
this book apart from others and that it is the
perfect book to begin one's search. Further
research is also facilitated by useful
bibliographies at most entries. An expanded
edition of this book was published in 1985 by the
Antique Collectors Club, having 481pp., 78 colour
plates, 730 B&W photos, 100 line
drawings.
- Pickford, Ian (editor). Pocket
Edition, Jackson's Hallmarks: English, Scottish,
Irish Silver and Gold Marks from 1300 to Present
Day. Woodbridge, Suffolk UK: Antique
Collectors' Club, 1989. 172 pp., ill. This
concise reference provides complete cycles of
hallmarks organized by assay office (London,
Sheffield, Chester, Birmingham, etc.), making
hallmark identification relatively simple.
Although it is considerably smaller than the
full-size Jackson's reference, many readers find
that the information contained is complete enough
to aid in the research of most English silver.
The makers appear to have been well selected,
including all important makers, as well as common
makers of lesser historical significance.
Collectors may find with time that they must also
acquire Arthur Grimwade's London Goldsmiths
1697-1837: Their Marks and Lives and/or John
Culme's The Directory of Gold and
Silversmiths: Jewellers and Allied Traders
1838-1914 for further research, but in any
event this volume is more than sufficient as a
starting point.
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OR --
Jackson, Sir Charles J. English
Goldsmiths and Their Marks: A History of the
Goldsmiths and Plate Workers of England,
Scotland, and Ireland. NY: Dover
Publication, 1964; reprint of 1921 second
edition. 747pp., ill. This (or later
editions) is the larger work form which Pickford
is drawn, and may be preferred by those focusing
more strongly on the silver of the British Isles.
As noted above, Grimwade and/or Culme may be
needed if interest develops further in this
direction.
American Silver
- Fales, Martha Gandy. Early American
Silver. n.p.: Excalibur Books, 1970.
336 pp, 231 B&W photos. A comprehensive
and wide-ranging reference book on American
silver from the seventeenth century to the early
part of the nineteenth century. Ms. Fales
examines the stylistic development of silver
designs in America, the development of different
forms of silver objects and regional
characteristics. All are documented with
excellent photographs, line drawings and clearly
written text. She also discusses the use and
importance of silver in four distinct areas:
domestic silver, church silver, official silver
and presentation silver. Her chapters on the
training of the American silversmith and their
role as a businessman in their community,
characteristics of the silver metal itself,
engraving as an art form, and useful tips in
reading marks on silver provide excellent advice
to all who have an interest in American silver.
Finally, she provides practical guidance on how
to evaluate and care for silver objects with
interesting observations on how to detect fakes
and alterations. This is a revised and expanded
version of the author's Early American Silver
for the Cautious Collector.
- Venable, Charles. Silver in America:
1840-1940, A Century of Splendor.
New York, NY: Harry N. Abrams, 1995. 365 pp.,
ill. Published in conjunction with the
Dallas Museum of Art exhibition of the same name,
this book explores the development of silver
manufacture in 19th and 20th century America as
it was becoming the largest silver producer in
the world. It treats aspects as diverse as
production, marketing, consumption, stylistic
trends, and use, and provides splendid
photographs as well as biographies and
backgrounds of silversmiths and firms. This is a
great survey of American silver, and a terrific
foundation for any aspiring collector or
enthusiast. Because it has become hard to find
and expensive, we offer two other options.
--
OR --
Hood, Graham. American Silver: A History
of Style, 1650-1900. NY: Preager
Publishers, 1971. 256pp., ill. Like Venable,
there is some emphasis here on grand, impressive
pieces, but the text is clear and accurate and
the book provides a good introduction to the
styles of American silver through the 19th
century. A paperback reprint can also be
found.
--
OR --
McClinton, Katharine Morrison. Collecting
American 19th Century Silver. NY:
Bonanza Books, 1968. 280pp. ill. Although
covering only the 19th century, this book is
notable for offering extensive discussions of the
styles, including simple flatware as well as
larger pieces. Separate chapters are also offered
on presentations pieces, trophies, swords, naval
and church silver, and Masonic jewels.
- Kovel, Ralph & Terry. Kovels'
American Silver Marks: 1650 to Present.
New York, Crown Publishers, 1989. 432 pp.,
ill. The Kovels offer an extensive
alphabetical list of American silver
manufacturers, also citing working locations and
dates. Entries for individual silversmiths often
include a useful list of partnerships in which
they participated. Where available, makers' marks
are illustrated with the manufacturer entries,
although in this edition they are even less
accurately represented than in earlier versions
of the work. Although the book offers little more
than basic identifying information for listed
makers, and is known to have many mistakes
(experienced users carry heavily annotated copies
correcting the mistakes found), it is still a
useful starting point for those wishing to
research American silversmiths. Eventually
serious readers will want to supplement this
volume with information from other, often more
specific and complete references. It is however a
useful foundation for any American silver
collector's library, collecting basic information
from many hard-to-obtain sources in one
place.
--
OR --
Ensko, Stephen Guernsey Cook, American
Silversmiths and Their Marks IV.
Boston: David R. Godine, 1989. 478 pp.,
ill. The Kovels compilation has more
entries, but Ensko is generally more accurate,
and includes short biographical notes for most of
the included silversmiths. And Ensko was a true
scholar of American silver, whose work was among
those copied by the Kovels. The drawings of marks
here are for the most part accurate.
- Rainwater, Dorothy, and Judy Redfield.
Encyclopedia of American Silver
Manufacturers (4th Ed.) Atglen, PA:
Schiffer Publishing, 2002. 418pp., ill.
Undeniably the most recommendable reference for
collectors and students of American silver, this
book offers fairly comprehensive information on
an impressive array of American silversmithing
firms. The content for each manufacturer is
proportional to the firm's size and notability,
so that Gorham, International, Reed & Barton,
and Tiffany & Co., etc. receive significantly
more attention than more obscure makers. Most
entries include illustrations of makers' marks
for easy identification, and an analytical index
of unlettered marks makes the identification of
less obvious pictorial marks considerably easier.
Because some makers' marks, though lettered, do
not intuitively indicate the primary company
name, there is mild difficulty with locating a
relative few makers. However, related makers are
very regularly cross-referenced to facilitate
information retrieval. The Rainwater/Redfield 4th
edition of this book is preferable to further
editions, as it includes much information that is
not in either earlier or later editions.
- Hagan, Tere. Sterling Flatware: An
Identification and Value Guide (Rev. 2nd
Ed.). Gas City, IN: L-W Book Sales, 1999. 312
pp., ill. Composed primarily of tables
featuring handle images for pattern
identification, this is a must-have book for any
silver pattern matcher or anyone interested in
American sterling flatware. Also included is an
excerpt of Towle Mfg. Co.'s catalog for its Old
Colonial pattern, illustrating typical place and
serving pieces to be found in most full-line
patterns. The patterns are organized first by
manufacturer, and by year of introduction.
Indices allow searches by manufacturers, marks,
and patterns. Although the book tends to fall
apart after minor use, this can be remedied by
putting the pages into plastic sleeves and then
into a 3-ring binder. Another disadvantage is
that line drawings are used instead of
photographs. This often makes it a little more
difficult to identify a pattern. The author gives
no sources or references, but still this is the
book of choice for any collector or professional
in this field; the second edition is a
significant improvement over the first.
- Hagan, Tere. Silverplated Flatware:
An Identification and Value Guide (Rev.
4th Ed.). Paducah, KY: Collector Books, 1998.
376pp., ill. Like her Sterling
Flatware, this book presents a large
selection of silverplated flatware patterns for
identification (over 1,600 patterns are shown).
These illustrations are also line drawings, which
some readers find difficult to match. Some
readers also complain that the index can be a
little cumbersome, and that patterns attributed
to multiple companies are inconsistently listed
(sometimes displayed for all or most of the
attributable companies, sometimes not), thereby
making identification less obvious. And as with
the sterling volume, no sources of references are
given. Nonetheless, it is among the most
comprehensive references for silverplated
flatware identification, and with use and
familiarity it becomes an indispensable source of
information.
Jewelry
- Fales, Martha Gandy. Jewelry in
America: 1600-1900. Woodbridge,
Suffolk UK: Antique Collectors' Club, 1995. 447
pp., over 500 ills. The title of this
reference may belie a focus on American jewelry,
but in fact significant attention is given to
both the wearing of European jewelry items in
America and the influence of European styles on
American design, as well as American influence in
Europe. Both men's and women's accessories are
discussed. Organized chronologically, the book
explores styles, forms, materials, and makers.
Various types of jewelry are presented, and
detailed descriptions include even provenance.
This has been recommended not only for the
collector, but also for museums and scholars of
the subject.
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NOTE OF SPECIAL INTEREST
Concerning Howard Pitcher Okie, Old
Silver and Old Sheffield Plate, and
Seymour B. Wyler, The Book of Old Silver,
English, American, Foreign. Although one
or the other of these two books has probably
been the starting point for more silver
collectors than any other books, and they are
probably the most widely used by beginners
and are widely available at reasonable
prices, both are known to have many mistakes
and idiosyncrasies. We recommend the above
books instead.
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