|
A GLOSSARY of MILLED BANDS
|
|
| How to Post Photos |
REGISTER (click here)
|
|
A GLOSSARY of MILLED BANDS
|
|
| How to Post Photos |
REGISTER (click here)
|
|
 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 American Silver before sterling
 Spoons, Empires ... and Fakes?
|
 SSFFriend: Email This Page to Someone! |
next newest topic | next oldest topic |
| Author | Topic: Spoons, Empires ... and Fakes? |
|
akgdc Posts: 289 |
posted 07-06-2006 01:28 PM
  
Browsing today on the homepage of Common-Place, an online journal of early American history, I was pleased to see an article, "Of Spoons and Empires," in which a historian from Boston University reflects on the political meaning of a piece of early silver. It's all too rare that political historians - or Americanists generally - pay attention to the decorative/visual arts (including silver). Just one small problem with Professor McConville's thoughtful analysis: Does anyone here think that the spoon he discusses (from the collection of the New-York Historical Society) is a genuine piece of 18th-century American silver (let alone a "communion spoon")? IP: Logged |
|
argentum1 Posts: 602 |
posted 07-06-2006 03:47 PM
My brother is a retired priest so I asked him. The Episcopal church used communion spoons but he said the bowl should be plain. Although the king is the head of the Church of England he doubts the bowl would have been a coin or had any decoration. It does not look like any he has ever seen. I personally have no idea. I await an authoratative response. IP: Logged |
|
akgdc Posts: 289 |
posted 07-06-2006 09:04 PM
Well, I'll offer my own opinion, which is that it's a typical 20th-century novelty piece. IP: Logged |
|
Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 |
posted 07-07-2006 10:07 AM
Spoons that made similar use of coins were popular as souvenirs and novelties in the late 19th/early 20th centuries, and were produced not just in the United States, but also in Europe, Central & South Americas, Asia, etc. Some of the nicest examples came from Shreve & Company, who also made hollowware items. I agree that the pictured spoon is just an early 20th century novelty item. Even the author doesn't seem 100% certain that this is an 18th century American communion spoon. It reads as if he did not do any research in the silver department. quote:(boldface mine) [This message has been edited by Paul Lemieux (edited 07-07-2006).] IP: Logged |
|
dragonflywink Posts: 993 |
posted 07-07-2006 10:25 AM
Perhaps I missed it, but did the author mention any provenance for this piece? I've been researching salt spoons from my mother's collection for well over twenty years and there have been many pieces constructed in a similar manner with coins from all over the world, haven't run across any with U.S. coins, but a couple with Canadian. Most of the coins seem to date from the late 1800s-early 1900s and I believe them to be from that period, but would hesitate to date on the basis of the coin. Heacock & Johnson's 5000 Open Salts shows a set, in the original Shreve & Co. presentation case, of 12 salts, under plates, pepperettes and spoons along with sugar tongs, all constructed from various world coins (inc. Britain) dating from 1764-1891. The spoons are constructed very much like the one shown here, but with an open loop finial. Cheryl IP: Logged |
|
dragonflywink Posts: 993 |
posted 07-07-2006 10:28 AM
Busy writing away and looking up the Shreve set, didn't realize Paul just said basically the same thing. Cheryl ;o) IP: Logged |
|
akgdc Posts: 289 |
posted 07-07-2006 10:32 AM
Cheryl, thanks! What is the date given on the manufacture of the Shreve set? IP: Logged |
|
dragonflywink Posts: 993 |
posted 07-07-2006 11:51 AM
The authors show it as "Circa 1892", but my guess is that they dated it by the latest dated coin being from 1891. Wonderful book, but William Heacock was a glass expert and Patricia Johnson a salt collector, silver information in the book tends to be a bit shaky. They've both passed on now, often wonder what happened to that set, it was the pride of her collection and pictured on the back of the book. Cheryl ;o) [This message has been edited by dragonflywink (edited 07-07-2006).] IP: Logged |
|
dragonflywink Posts: 993 |
posted 07-07-2006 01:11 PM
From 5,000 Open Salts, A Collector's Guide ©1982 Patricia Johnson: "No two coins match and are from many different countries. The coins on the salts, saucers and sides of the pepper shakers are all the size of our silver dollars. The pedestals on the shakers are quarter sized and the spoon ladles - dime size. The box is deep red velvet with a blue gray satin lining and measures 25" by 13" by 3"." This softcover book has had hard use over the last 20+ years and the color picture on the back is just too worn to share, but the salts have a bright gilt lining. Cheryl IP: Logged |
|
Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 |
posted 07-07-2006 05:34 PM
Here is a set of shakers from my collection, marked GEO. C. SHREVE SAN FRAN STERLING. One is made of two French coins with a British coin foot; the other is made with French & Peruvian coins for the body, and an East India Co. coin for the foot. Apologize for the lousy pictures. IP: Logged |
All times are ET | next newest topic | next oldest topic |
  |
|
Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46a
|
1. Public Silver Forums (open Free membership) - anyone with a valid e-mail address may register. Once you have received your Silver Salon Forum password, and then if you abide by the Silver Salon Forum Guidelines, you may start a thread or post a reply in the New Members' Forum. New Members who show a continued willingness to participate, to completely read and abide by the Guidelines will be allowed to post to the Member Public Forums. 2. Private Silver Salon Forums (invitational or $ donation membership) - The Private Silver Salon Forums require registration and special authorization to view, search, start a thread or to post a reply. Special authorization can be obtained in one of several ways: by Invitation; Annual $ Donation; or via Special Limited Membership. For more details click here (under development). 3. Administrative/Special Private Forums (special membership required) - These forums are reserved for special subjects or administrative discussion. These forums are not open to the public and require special authorization to view or post. |
|
copyright © 1993 - 2022
SM Publications
All Rights Reserved. Legal & Privacy Notices |
