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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 A Curator's Viewpoint
 J.E. Spear
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| Author | Topic: J.E. Spear |
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steve jones unregistered |
posted 06-07-2001 11:43 AM
 
Can anyone provide info on J.E. Spears. I have alot of sterling flatware from this manufacturer/seller. I would like to know time period and location of origin. Thanks Stve IP: Logged |
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Ulysses Dietz Moderator Posts: 1265 |
posted 06-07-2001 04:26 PM
If Spears was a retailer, as is probably the case, there is almost no way to find out anything, because (to my knowledge) there are no directories of retailers. Are there any other marks on the flatware that might suggest who made the pieces? Do you know where the flatware was originally owned? Remember that there were thousands of local retailers from Alaska to Florida, all of whom made nothing, but retailed an incredible array of goods from American factories (silver, jewelry, china). Spears doesn't show up in the standard references, so I suspect the retailer route is the likely one. If you know where the flatware was originally owned, you might be able to check city directories (if it was a big enough place to have one) and learn about a retailer that way. IP: Logged |
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steve jones unregistered |
posted 06-07-2001 07:03 PM
There is a "Patent 1846" the pattern is fiddle and Shell only the shell is small and more like a fleur de le (sp) I have some more of this silver pattern that match exactly but are stamped Ball Black Co. From the amount of polishing they have received I would quess them to be the same age, but I thought I would try to find out more. Steve IP: Logged |
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Ulysses Dietz Moderator Posts: 1265 |
posted 06-08-2001 08:51 AM
The Ball Black mark is the final clue that this silver was probably manufactured in New York (or near it, maybe Newark, maybe Newburgh, where silversmiths who "outsourced" for big retailers are known to have operated). The Patent 1846 is an important clue, and you would do well to check out design patents in 1846 through the US patent office or one of its repositories, to find out who patented this pattern. However, the patent mark can be misleading, because it might just mean patent applied for and not obtained. The final result of this means, however, that the Spears name is a retail name, and unless you know where their store was, you've hit a deadend on knowing more about them. Spears could be a retailer in any sizable town within 100 miles of NYC. It's pre-railroad, so it's not likely to be a midwestern locale... You might send a picture of the flatware, along with the other information to Donald Soeffing, 161 East 25th St, 3B, NYC, 10010. He knows a great deal about esoteric early flatware design, and might have some help on the maker of this. IP: Logged |
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