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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 American Sterling Silver
 Duhme Sterling Bull Figural Fish Slice
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| Author | Topic: Duhme Sterling Bull Figural Fish Slice |
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park1226 Posts: 104 |
posted 06-10-2014 01:34 PM
  
I bought this Duhme fish slice yesterday at a house sale and posting it today to test the new hosting system. The proprietor thought it was a novelty or joke and priced it accordingly. She had no idea that it was a fine example of Cincinnati silver. It is 12 1/2" long and stamped on the reverse Duhme & Co Sterling indicating a post 1872 production date. I have seen pictures of it but never owned a piece. I am interested to learn whether there is any information regarding a possible pattern name or what pieces were made in this pattern. I assume that only servers were produced in this pattern. I know they also produced a line with a ram head. IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11556 |
posted 06-10-2014 03:24 PM
Most often I hear this pattern attributed to George Sharp: IP: Logged |
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park1226 Posts: 104 |
posted 06-10-2014 04:12 PM
Thanks for your reply Scott. The bull's heads are identical, however the details of the handle differ. Perhaps Sharp supplied Duhme with the heads which the latter simply applied to the handle. Or both used a common source for the heads. I did note in Elizbeth Beckman's article on Cincinnati silver that she mentions from 1843 to the 1860's Duhme, who was not a silversmith himself, retailed silver and jewelry from other makers. He only started building a silver workshop in the 1860's and produced silver flat and hollow ware on a large scale up to 1910. Today I found on line another fish slice with a matching fork, and a vegetable serving fork made by Duhme in this pattern. IP: Logged |
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asheland Posts: 935 |
posted 10-07-2016 09:52 AM
I also have a piece in this pattern. Marked by Duhme. I'm also curious about the possibility of Sharp having made these? Mine is coin, by the way. IP: Logged |
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park1226 Posts: 104 |
posted 02-28-2017 05:24 PM
I saw another piece of coin silver this weekend with the same bull's head that also was used on the Georg Sharp and Duhme pieces we discussed previously in this thread. It was a soup ladle made by Schohay, Ludwig and Co in Philadelphia. According to McGrew they were active for a short time 1867-1873. It was coin silver with an arrow pointing to the right hallmark. The handle was similar but not identical to the Duhme and Sharp pieces. I am intrigued by the use of this same applied bull head on different patterns and wonder what the common source might have been for these three different companies. I did not buy the ladle nor was I able to photograph it. Perhaps Sharp produced these different patterns and they were retailed through Duhme and Schohay, Ludwig and Co. IP: Logged |
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asheland Posts: 935 |
posted 03-01-2017 10:27 AM
Interesting to note. I'd love to add examples to my collection, but they tend to be pricey. IP: Logged |
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Vetdaddy Posts: 70 |
posted 03-01-2017 10:32 PM
Personally I also believe it is a novelty item and in consideration would be willing to purchase and help you recoup your investment  Seriously...nice catch. Duhme and Sharp also get my vote....no bull!! IP: Logged |
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park1226 Posts: 104 |
posted 06-05-2023 08:31 PM
I purchased this Duhme Bull or Steer Head platter or stuffing spoon for my collection recently mainly because this version of the pattern differs from the Duhme fish slice pictured at the beginning of this thread. The spoon is 13" long and weighs 5 troy ounces. The bull head is the same on both but the shape of the blank tip, engraving, and rope like decoration ending in a tassel are unique and different from the items pictured in the Dehan reference book re. Cincinnati silver. I corresponded with Ms. Dehan and she has never seen this version of the pattern. Moreover, it is interesting that the spoon has the Duhme factory mark but the sterling stamp is smaller and distinctly different that the Duhme factory mark. That makes me wonder whether this was an outsourced piece that Duhme bought from a supplier and put their mark on. It was mention earlier in the thread that the pattern is often associated with George Sharp. This platter spoon is also not the same as the Sharp version. I am curious as to how the identical bull's heads are showing up on different versions of the pattern from the same company and from different silver companies.    IP: Logged |
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ahwt Posts: 2360 |
posted 06-06-2023 11:24 AM
Great piece. It may be that they all shared the same mold for making the casting. I think there was more interactions between silver dealers in those days they one might expect today. I recently used Amy Miller Dehan's book on Cincinnati Silver to look up some information on the Kinsey brothers. If you have any interest Midwest silver this is a really good resource. IP: Logged |
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park1226 Posts: 104 |
posted 06-06-2023 12:36 PM
Thanks for your comments. I agree that there probably was considerable interaction between early silver companies. Since the bull heads are the common thread between these different versions of the pattern I wonder if only the cast bull heads were available for purchase and then soldered to each firm’s unique blank before being engraved. I do have a keen interest in Cincinnati silver especially the Bunnell and subsequent Oskamp version of the Fox Head pattern. I do own a copy of the book and highly recommend it. IP: Logged |
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ahwt Posts: 2360 |
posted 06-06-2023 07:14 PM
I grew up in St. Louis, another river town, that had many German brewers just as Cincinnati did. Both cities had some wonderful silversmiths. I wish Ms. Dehan would write a book on St. Louis silversmiths as her book on Cincinnati is a real classic. [This message has been edited by ahwt (edited 06-06-2023).] IP: Logged |
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