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Recognize the maker?

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Author	Topic: Recognize the maker?
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 08-17-2011 05:37 PM I recently bought very distinctive c. 1870 cream and sugar set. It has no maker's mark, but you guys were so successful at telling me who made my ladle last month that I'm hoping someone will have similar instincts about this set. It's so heavy and well made that I'm convinced it must be by one of the important makers of the period. The style is that very angular, arms-akimbo post-Christopher-Dresser shape that shows up more often in silverplate than sterling. I would expect the engraving to be Japonesque/Eastlake birds, bugs, and fans, but it's not--it's more 1860s-ish geometric. I can't decide whether the sugar bowl is missing its lid or whether it never had one. Any guesses? They're both marked 38 (I assume the model number) and 925 STERLING. They have some other numbers scratched in the bottom, presumably by some earlier owner. The dot in the middle of the bottom means they were raised, not spun, right? Thoughts, anyone? Many thanks! IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 08-17-2011 05:42 PM The mark on the other piece: IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 08-17-2011 05:53 PM Creamer: [IMG] IP: Logged
Richard Kurtzman Moderator Posts: 768 Registered: Aug 2000	posted 08-17-2011 10:04 PM Most likely William Gale. IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 08-17-2011 11:15 PM Thank you, Richard. Why do you think William Gale? Not doubting you, just trying to learn. IP: Logged
Richard Kurtzman Moderator Posts: 768 Registered: Aug 2000	posted 08-18-2011 04:32 PM Polly, Please see these threads. An interesting Medallion pattern Makers of Aesthetic pieces I help with spoon marks? (memory lapse...) There is some confusion with Ford & Tupper but I lean toward Gale. IP: Logged
agleopar Posts: 850 Registered: Jun 2004	posted 08-18-2011 10:19 PM Hi Polly, beautiful! Just wondering if you see the over strike of the sterling in the first image of the bottom? I mean it looks like there is a T... something under the sterling mark? Actually maybe under the 925 also? Can you make it out or am I just imagining it? IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 08-18-2011 11:19 PM Interesting! Thank you. I tried searching for 925 sterling, but I got a zillion threads--everything about 925 or sterling. I can't figure out how to search for the exact phrase. Putting it in quotes doesn't seem to do it. In one thread you mention Gale's date marks. Can you say more about those? IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 08-19-2011 01:07 AM Hi, Rob. Your post just showed up for me. (My previous post was answering Richard.) The overstrike is just 925 STERLING again, upside down. They struck it twice in the same place, but they turned the punch over the second time for some reason. (Is that the right word--punch?). Is that another clue somehow? It seems like a weird thing to do. Anybody have any thoughts about whether there was supposed to be a lid to the sugar bowl? My guess is yes, and I wish I had it! IP: Logged
agleopar Posts: 850 Registered: Jun 2004	posted 08-19-2011 08:34 AM It is not so uncommon to make mistakes when one is marking finished work. It is a persnickety job at best and fraught with chances to go wrong, double strikes, crooked and upside down if you are rushing or not paying attention.In this case it looks like the 38 was already on and the sterling mark was then put on upside down. It would be very hard to get "out" the mis-struck mark so easier to just to turn it around and strike it hard the right way. The center punch could be there for raised or spun. These would have a very complex puzzle chuck if they were spun so most likely they were raised. I do think this style and level of design would have had a lid on the sugar but I am only guessing. IP: Logged

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