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A Handwrought Spoon by NF

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Author	Topic: A Handwrought Spoon by NF
Brent Posts: 1507 Registered: May 99	posted 09-10-2006 10:04 AM Hi All, Does anyone recognize this mark? The piece is a nice reworking of a seal-top style, with a hollow ball in place of the seal. The bowl has a hammered interior, and the spoon is actually made in separate pieces, with the bowl and handle joined with a slip joint above the bowl. If the mark were FN, I might guess Falick Novick of Chicago, but it seems to read NF. Any ideas? Brent IP: Logged
IJP Posts: 326 Registered: Oct 2004	posted 09-10-2006 06:14 PM Sorry, Brent, Arts & Crafts is not really my strength and I can't personally help, but I do wish to say that it is really a beautiful piece! IP: Logged
Dale Posts: 2132 Registered: Nov 2002	posted 09-11-2006 01:24 AM Sometimes spoons of this type are made and sold by jewelry makers for very specific markets. Which markets are Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) and Wiccan liturgical pieces. Which groups overlap. My personal guess is that this is one of these. The hollow ball seems a tad unusual, but could be a silver bead that had not been pierced. My assumption here is that hollow balls are more common in jewelry making than silver design. Because this is an assemblage of a variety of pieces, it does not appear to be the product of a traditional smith. Its design and inputs appear to my eye to be something a jeweler would do. In these markets, the sellers are frequently hobbiests or very small operators whose main trade is the production of highly specialized items. Almost everything is jewelry, but there are some spoons and chalices. In SCA, a medieval appearance is required for everything. This spoon would be one that the SCA person would carry to banquets and feasts, just as medieval people did. In Wicca, the spoon would be used for sprinkling and moving water. Which is associated with the moon, hence the ball on the end. 'The golden apples of the sun, the silver apples of the moon.' I have met a number of these smiths. Most do their work part time. A large number work all year in their spare time. And sell at one or two gatherings. Most have private clients and offer highly specialized services. It is quite common for the client to pick the time when the work is done. Such as 'during a waxing moon, after sunset, when the moon is in certain signs'. Such requirements are extremely important in Wicca. Not many production companies can adjust to these requirements. On the other hand, all sorts of smiths in India would probably say 'of course, very wise'. My impression is that most of the Wiccan silver I have seen is very well done. It is above the level of hobby, some approaches art. But the output is small, the makers prefer to remain unknown. Quite a few are lesbian separtists, who do not sell silver to men. The marks used are unknown to anyone outside these circles. Wicca is a religion that uses a great deal of silver in its services. So, it remains the province of lone workers. Who can adjust to the very specific requirements of their markets. Most I have known do have marks, which usually include the 'sterling' word. Beyond that, all of them were so overwhelmed with clients that they did not advertise or seek new clients. My attempts to research this continuously go nowhere. Perhaps if SMP asked Witchesvoice to put a notice asking for marks we would get somewhere with this subject. [This message has been edited by Dale (edited 09-11-2006).] [This message has been edited by Dale (edited 09-11-2006).] IP: Logged
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 Registered: Apr 93	posted 09-11-2006 10:21 AM quote: Perhaps if SMP asked Witchesvoice to put a notice asking for marks we would get somewhere with this subject. The Witches' Voice Staff member, Don WaterHawk, has been sent a reguest. quote: Don WaterHawk Profile: Born 1950, has lived all over the U.S. Of Tsalagi (Cherokee) and German heritage, he has studied Native, European and Asian cultures. He walks a predominately Red Path, but allows all things good to enter his Circle, Don is an admitted Eclectic. An accomplished Silversmith, Leatherworker, Carver, Drummer, make that DRUMMER!, avid gardener (biophiliac), photographer and Sharer, and now new Author working on the second book. He is also a Council Facilitator for groups around the country. Don states he is not a Teacher, a Medicine man, nor is he affiliated with any Tribe or Nation. "I am a Human Being of all Mix". A member of the Seneca Wolf Clan, highly decorated Combat Medic in Viet Nam, and closely works with Veterans groups around the country, and has 13 years with Sheriff Department in Ohio. Don's goal is to work for the "ALL", not the "few". He lives in South West Florida with his life mate Daniella, and their two beautiful daughters, Tara and Tia. Oh, and we shouldn't forget about his friend Kokopelli, and blue gold macaw and Elf, a Articularia Metallica. Witches' Voice Duties: Staff Photographer and a wonderful voice for the all. IP: Logged
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 Registered: Apr 93	posted 09-11-2006 10:30 AM FYI here are a few examples of Don Two Eagles WaterHawk and Daniella Bluestar WaterHawk's silver: IP: Logged
Dale Posts: 2132 Registered: Nov 2002	posted 09-11-2006 11:57 PM Beautiful pieces Scott, thanks for showing them. Perhaps some marks, and examples of work, will make their way here. Which would be a big help in identifying things. This also serves to show us that silver is a living tradition. One that adapts to new needs and differing traditions. Good to see also a segment we really had not thought of as being silver loving. [This message has been edited by Dale (edited 09-12-2006).] IP: Logged
Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 Registered: Apr 2000	posted 09-12-2006 09:53 AM My opinion is that this is not a Wiccan silver spoon. Suspect it is just an interesting spoon, produced by a talented, if not widely known, smith. I would guess probably ca 1910s-20s. [This message has been edited by Paul Lemieux (edited 09-13-2006).] IP: Logged
swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 Registered: May 2003	posted 09-12-2006 12:30 PM Perhaps this spoon better would be referred to as a knopped spoon (a more generic term), rather than a seal top, as there is no flat surface on which initials could be engraved. IP: Logged
FWG Posts: 845 Registered: Aug 2005	posted 09-12-2006 03:57 PM Knopped or ball-top, I'd say. I have seen a few Wiccan-oriented pieces done with restraint, but most of the (relatively few -- only a few dozen) pieces I've seen have been pretty florid. But Renaissance Fair / SCA pieces may be more likely to have this kind of simple style, and the hammer-marks left in the bowl would not be unexpected there; they often tend to leave some sign of handwork, even on pieces that in the original wouldn't be left that way. The soldered-on handle also makes sense there, given the widespread assumption that that is how these spoons were made. But I've only seen one or two pieces of silver made for the Renaissance market (as opposed to armor and edged weapons, which I've seen more of), and those many years ago; I don't remember them being marked. And I also wouldn't rule out an Arts & Crafts maker. At least it appears to have been made by someone prolific enough to pay for a professionally-made punch -- wherever they're coming from. IP: Logged
Don WaterHawk Posts: 1 Registered: Sep 2006	posted 09-14-2006 03:06 PM I am certainly not an expert, but this appears to be a tasters spoon. The ball at the end clips onto a clasp which is then hung around the neck. You would be able to tell this if the groove below the ball is worn. Pagan rituals normally use wood or horn for their spoons in keeping with the anchient traditional rituals. Modern Neo-pagans/wiccans may use silver....but its normally an organic material for anything to the mouth. IP: Logged
Brent Posts: 1507 Registered: May 99	posted 09-20-2006 11:48 AM Great thread. I'm not sure if we proved anything, but a great conversation nevertheless. Nice to see more contemporary silversmithing as well! Here are some more shots of the spoon construction. The bowl was apparently formed with a short rectangular tab at the top. The handle end and rattail were tapered. The bowl is soldered to the rattail, and the bowl tab extends a little bit up the stem. The solder line is clearly visible. The other neat thing is the way the handle gradually changes from flat with pointed edges at the bowl, to a square with cut-corners at the knop. Brent IP: Logged
Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 Registered: Apr 2000	posted 09-21-2006 11:08 AM I am of the opinion that this spoon does not have any Pagan or Wiccan associations. IP: Logged
FWG Posts: 845 Registered: Aug 2005	posted 09-21-2006 01:37 PM I concur with Paul - and note that WaterHawk did reply on 14 Sept, suggesting his opinion that this might be a "tasters spoon". [This message has been edited by FWG (edited 09-21-2006).] IP: Logged

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