posted 01-07-2004 05:26 PM            

Could anyone recommend any books on the construction methods of 19th century silver. I would like to learn more about how a pair of silver candlesticks that I own were made. I think that they were cast in a number of sections then assembled. But the tapered fluted column looks like it has a soldered seam running the length of the section. To further confuse me, the interior of the tapered column looks as if it were cut on a lathe.

Another question I have is how do you try to identify the maker or origin of a piece if it doesn't have standard hallmarks? Or is there such a thing as a standard hallmark?

These candlesticks have an impressed marking on the exterior. On the inside there is the number 158 scratched into the metal. There are also three raised letters on the inside. Depending on how you are holding the piece they read SWH or HMS. Does anyone recognize any of these markings. Is there somewhere I should go to look up the maker or origin of these? Might anyone out there know?

By their style and quality of construction my guess was that they were early 19th century. I have had these candlesticks for years and often wondered about them. My own attempt at researching them left me with more questions unanswered than answered. I just found this website yesterday, my knowledge and appreciation for beautiful silver has already been greatly expanded.

THANKS!!!!!!!

posted 01-11-2004 10:13 PM            

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Could anyone recomend any books on the construction methods of 19th century silver?

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For handmade silver try The Colonial Silversmith / His Techniques & His Products by Henry J. Kauffman (1969). The techniques of making handmade silver in the 18th C carried thru essentially unchanged into the 19th C. Candlesticks are treated only briefly.

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. . . your book suggestion . . . is not in our rural library system, but I will be purchasing it for myself.

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