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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 American Sterling Silver
 Identifying "Fake" Unger?
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| Author | Topic: Identifying "Fake" Unger? |
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ms. Dale Posts: 6 |
posted 05-10-2004 03:04 PM
  
Hi-- I know a dealer who has a piece of Unger Bros that is most unusual. I have not been able to find any reference to Unger producing pieces in this style, and I am wondering for my own purely academic reasons if perhaps it is a "fake." It has the traditional UB intertwined surrounded by 925 FINE. It has a sterling serving end, and a soapstone type handle, which is carved with a Japanese/ Oriental Aesthetic Design. There is a man and a landscape. If you have the Whiting catalogue put out by Eden Sterling, the Whiting IVORY "549 A 5" Asaparagus server's serving end is a larger version of what this Unger piece has. It isn't open like a sardine fork. Maybe 7 inches long all together. I can't find anything like this in the 1904 Catalogue or the 1905/ 1906 supplement. I find this piece very fascinating, and I was tempted to put the thread in the Curator's board because I know Mr. Dietz wrote the forward to the supplement. Any thoughts? Anybody seen any Unger with Sterling and Other Components? THANK YOU! IP: Logged |
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Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 |
posted 05-10-2004 04:13 PM
I have seen a couple Unger mixed media items having a Japanesque design that are similar to what I think you are describing. They are quite rare. I am not aware of reproductions of them. Usually reproductions of silver from this period (e.g., recasts of Whiting's Lily or Tiffany's strawberry designs) are clumsily cast and the makers' marks are obscured by the casting and/or stamped over with just STERLING. Some of these hideous items have mismatching handles and serving ends; and sometimes, the serving ends are recasts of Whiting pieces such as the asparagus server you mention. When you say "is a larger version of..." do you mean it is exactly the same design, or just similar? How is the handle attached to the functional end on the supposed Unger piece? Usually Unger marks are crisply struck; sometimes age wear can dull them a little of course. Is this the case with the piece you saw? How is the detail on the silver? Unger silver may not have been the sturdiest ever made, but in general the designs are well-defined. I have not seen a lot of Unger repros, although recently I encountered a recast napkin ring (complete with the original piece's monogram). The detail was poor, the piece heavier than typical Unger ware. IP: Logged |
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ms. Dale Posts: 6 |
posted 05-10-2004 04:32 PM
Thank you, Paul. When I say it was "like" the Whiting Ivory piece, I mean the style of piercing. The serving end was very plain, like SPRINGFIELD pieces, without any decoration in the usual Unger style. The mark is crisp. I have seen the recasts, and it didn't have that crass-ness or hastiness to it. The porous carved material met the server with a sterling cuff, but the cuff is solid with the serving end. (Not like the mother of pearl silverplate pieces with sterling cuff.) I think I will have to go and look at it again. The carved handle was beautiful, I think a "Japanese Style" man fishing. Thank you! Dale IP: Logged |
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