posted 11-19-2003 03:48 PM            

Attached are pictures of a previously unrecorded American 18th C marrow scoop. This form, while relatively common in English Georgian silver, is rarely found with an American maker's mark. The mark is that attributed to Joseph Anthony, Jr., a prolific Philadelphia silversmith / importer. The line across the mark is evidence of a crack in the die. This piece likely dates to around 1790.

Philadelphia probably had the closest ties to England, fashion-wise, of any of the major colonial cities. Philadelphia merchants imported a great deal of fashionable English silver, both before and after the Revolution. As such, it is not surprising to find a marrow scoop with a Philadelphia mark.

18th C American marrow scoops are rare and desirable enough to automatically make one suspicious of fakery. It would not be difficult for a skilled silversmith to fashion a marrow scoop out of a 18th C tablespoon. This example, though, appears to be perfectly genuine. The surface patina of age is consistent over the entire piece. There is no evidence of hallmark removal or refashioning. It is just right.

Anyway, enjoy!

posted 11-19-2003 04:49 PM            

I think, however, the crack is in the stem, rather than the die, as a break in the die would show as a ridge, or high line, rather than an open split in the silver. Such splits can occur from overworking the silver by reshaping the stem before or after the punch was applied, or ths punch could have been applied over other erased punch marks, if the scoop was originally a british import remarked by Anthony. My guess, based upon the way the letters are broken, and the depth of the strike, that he simiply hit the die too hard with his hammer and split the silver on impact. Whatever the case, it is his mark, and he gets the credit for it.

posted 11-19-2003 05:17 PM            

Brent, did you mention that this is part of your collection? If so... Bravo!

posted 11-19-2003 10:41 PM            

I was unaware of the "dog-boning" phenomenon, and I would be interested in seeing another example, Fred.

I did wonder if the mark might have been struck over existing English hallmarks, since Anthony imported so much English silver. If so, he did an awfully good job of obliterating them. Also, based on the metal content of some other very English-looking pieces marked by Anthony, it appears that most of his products were significantly below the sterling standard.

And yes, it is in my collection now. I am still amazed and gratified.

posted 12-01-2003 05:21 PM            

Your luck was better than mine. When I was still new to the subject, I bought a nice marrow scoop with four marks made by the same punch, which I hoped would turn out to be American. As luck would have it, it turned out to be a London "duty dodger," made to simulate true hallmarks, by closing over the top three, as was done in the short period when objects were sent for assay before being finished or marked by the silversmith (the assay office marks were then partially obscured by the finishing process, after which the maker's mark was added and so remained clear)- a process eventually abandoned. Since the maker's mark remains readable, the "dodger" silversmith could be traced and subject to fine if the object remained in England and was detected, so most objects so made may have been intended for the export market, where English made objects were valued, but not closely scrutinized.

Presumably this object has an American provenance, since I obtained it along with a couple of tablespoons by John Brevoort and several small late 18th C teaspoons, all purchased from an estate by the dealer from whom I got them. It was probably made by Samuel Jerman, who worked in London from 1764 to sometime after 1773. This mark, although unregistered, is attributed to him by Grimwade.

posted 12-01-2003 05:43 PM            

When the punches are struck in a narrow part of silver such as the shank of a spoon, the punches create bulges on each side of the shank and if these are forged back to the original contour of the shank they will distort the punch marks. Though this may make the hallmarks difficult to read, I do not believe it was an unlawful intent to decieve.

These distorted marks may not always indicate the work of a duty dodger.

Fred

posted 12-01-2003 07:42 PM            

Another possible example, this time a ladle, is shown in another thread:
TH? Eng? American????

In this example the orientation of the marks is alternated, so as to obscure the impression of their sameness without close inspection.