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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 American Sterling Silver
 Identification? Joseph Heinrichs?
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| Author | Topic: Identification? Joseph Heinrichs? |
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Morris Posts: 3 |
posted 11-29-2008 01:54 PM
  
[26-1753] I have a double, silver-butted, antler-handled carving set (two knives & two forks) marked on the blade: THEODORE B. STARR / MADISON SQUARE, N.Y. But, I believe he was simply a retailer. The silver repousse carved butts appear similar to the animal heads on the Joseph Heinrichs punch bowl, Venable, page 198. Does anyone know or can anyone speculate about who could have been the actual maker? ------------------ IP: Logged |
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Kimo Posts: 1627 |
posted 11-30-2008 11:56 AM
Hi and welcome Morris. Please also take a moment to introduce yourself to our little group - let us know what your silver collecting interests are and why you are asking about your carving set. Kimo IP: Logged |
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Morris Posts: 3 |
posted 11-30-2008 01:02 PM
I inherited a double, silver-butted, antler-handled carving set (two knives & two forks) marked on the blade: THEODORE B. STARR / MADISON SQUARE, N.Y. But, I believe he was simply a retailer. The silver repousse-carved butts appear similar to the animal heads on the Joseph Heinrichs punch bowl, Venable, page 198. Does anyone know or can anyone speculate about who could have been the actual maker?
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Kimo Posts: 1627 |
posted 12-01-2008 12:02 PM
Theodor Starr was one of a number of higher end retailers who had gold and silver objects made for them and on which they placed their name - a somewhat common practice in marketing back then and today. My guess is the maker was one of the Newark jewelry factories. At their peak there were over 100 such small factories in Newark, New Jersey who were cranking out all kinds of silver and gold and much of it was done under contracts for companies like Theodore Starr, Bailey, Banks and Biddle, etc. These factories hired many of their silversmiths and jewelery makers from Europe and brought them to Newark as immigrants. Germany was one of the places that supplied a large number of their workers. Your carving set reminds me of German style sets with the rough stag horn handles and animal heel caps, which give me additional thoughts that your set likely was made by one of these numerous workshops. If it was, I am not sure it will be easy or even possible to identify which one since there were so many. [This message has been edited by Kimo (edited 12-01-2008).] IP: Logged |
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Dale Posts: 2132 |
posted 12-01-2008 04:56 PM
Looking at them, I suspect the maker also made buttons. They are the size and shape of buttons I have seen. IP: Logged |
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bascall Posts: 1629 |
posted 12-01-2008 05:14 PM
Wouldn't they be more likely to have been cast rather than repousse? IP: Logged |
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Morris Posts: 3 |
posted 12-01-2008 05:29 PM
Thanks, Dale. No, Bascall, I believe they are repousse. I think you should be able to see the edges of the sheet silver along the bases of each animal head where they are nailed to the ends of the stag antler handles. ------------------ IP: Logged |
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bascall Posts: 1629 |
posted 12-01-2008 08:09 PM
Okay! They are a good looking set at any rate. IP: Logged |
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Richard Kurtzman Moderator Posts: 768 |
posted 12-01-2008 10:11 PM
Morris, Without seeing these pieces in person I can't say for certain, but ends such as these are usually cast. IP: Logged |
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silverhunter Posts: 704 |
posted 12-02-2008 02:03 PM
Hello, Nice pieces of silver. I was not familiar with the name and the pattern. I was surprised that this person made a lot of artistic pieces in different materials. Like silver, bronze, gold pieces. I just looked for information and found some examples made by this person. For instance bronze urns, silver coffee set, golden watches and there was a piece showed with the name Gorham Theodore B. Starre Sterling teaset. Because I don't know much about American silver I think that this silver and goldsmith has worked also for Gorham in a certain period? The pieces which I saw for instance the coffee- teasets are high priced at auctions. If your set is made by him it can be interesting knowing the real value! I only send a photo of the name which was printed in another piece by him, so I hope it's the same person. All the pieces which I have found until now are made around 1880. Please correct me if I'm wrong with information but it is a try from my side. After my reaction at this topic I will look for to find more information. IP: Logged |
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silverhunter Posts: 704 |
posted 12-02-2008 02:30 PM
Other marks of Theodore B.Starr NY and information about T.B.Starr NY: Starr&Marcus NY Partnership founded in 1865 and closed in 1877.By Theodore B. Starr and Herman Marcus. Theodore B. Starr NY. Active 1900 -1924 and succeeded by Reed & Barton. They imported silver also from England. IP: Logged |
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silverhunter Posts: 704 |
posted 12-02-2008 02:35 PM
When I read the reaction of Kimo I wonder if Herman Marcus was once a German immigrant to the USA or his family? I can be wrong about that? IP: Logged |
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bascall Posts: 1629 |
posted 12-02-2008 05:28 PM
Herman Marcus was born December 22, 1829 in Hesse Cassel. He immigrated to the United States in 1850. IP: Logged |
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Kimo Posts: 1627 |
posted 12-02-2008 05:40 PM
Hi Silverhunter. Theodore Starr was not a silversmith and did not make any of these. This is the name of a large, well known retail store in New York that sold silver and gold jewlery and silverware. Normally, they paid other factories to make things for them and put the store's name on them instead of the maker's name. Usually part of the contract with the makers was that the maker would not put their name or marks on the objects, and instead put the Theodore Starr name on them. Sometimes Starr would put their name on silver that already had the maker's name on it, such as the example you mention that has a Gorham marking in addition to the Theodore Starr marking. In that case, Gorham made the object then Starr sold it in their store. IP: Logged |
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ellabee Posts: 306 |
posted 12-02-2008 11:41 PM
That is one soulful sheep. Definitely a candidate for great faces in silver. IP: Logged |
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silverhunter Posts: 704 |
posted 12-03-2008 04:06 AM
Kimo, you're right it was explained also in the topic you wrote before. Now it is totaly clear at my side and after the short research of my side I didn't understood the retailers function, so thank you very much for the second and totaly explination. [This message has been edited by silverhunter (edited 12-03-2008).] IP: Logged |
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silverhunter Posts: 704 |
posted 12-03-2008 09:43 AM
Bascall, Thanks for your solution! IP: Logged |
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