posted 03-21-2008 10:27 PM            

Here is a set of swages for applying a Sheaf of Wheat design to silver. There are three sizes which might have been used for three sizes of spoons. They are cut into steel cylinders 27-30mm in height, and 30 (1) and 40mm (2) in diameter. Early designs were swaged onto the back of spoon bowls, and later onto the tops of handles.

There is no guarantee that these were used in the United States, but they may have been, although I have not seen an example from these swages. If anyone has an example, it might tell us who might have used these. Similar designs have been used, and a few examples are shown below, along with an enlargement of one of these swages.:

A is on a swage; B a design used by William Haverstick (Sr. or Jr.) on Lancaster, PA, before 1820 on the backs of bowls; C and D on handles in the 1830's by New York silversmiths George S. Gelston and Jordan Mott. The earlier designs are tied in bundles by knotted ropes, and the later ones include a scythe in the design. The Gelston spoon also has a shell design swaged onto the bowl back.

The Sheaf of Wheat is a classical but uncommon design; baskets of flowers are more often found, and various forms of shell are the most frequently encountered both on bowls and handles. Bowl back designs also include birdbacks (common only in the Mid-Atlantic region), scrolls, and other rare "picture-backs."

posted 03-24-2008 10:30 PM            

I have a set of George Haverstick spoons with a wheat back, which are presumably from the same swage used by William.

posted 03-25-2008 01:42 PM            

I am struck by these swages specific design (no pun intended!): I can't remember seeing in silver the nice neat highly symmetrical mushroomy form with the bow tied in front. Reminds me more of bread loaf molds I've seen, although obviously that's not what these are.

I'm with agleopar, I wouldn't be able to resist having them struck in silver. I've always wondered, though: when applying a relatively high-relief swage like these, would the piece be forged first to leave a thick area to strike? And I imagine annealing would be the last step before applying the swage?

posted 03-25-2008 10:48 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by FredZ:
I suspect that these dies were not used for spoons and were probably used to press the design into metal and the outer metal would be removed.
Perhaps they were used to make applied ornaments.
A lot would depend on the hardness of the dies.

Fred

---

You may be right - they are pretty deep. There was a period when devices like these were applied to spoons in Europe, although I was under the impression that they were cast. I think there was a thread in which Blakstone mentioned this. I have an example which I will try to photograph in a few days.

The steel seems pretty hard - there are no scratches or dents to be seen.

posted 03-26-2008 05:48 PM            

Agleopar, thanks for the offer - I may take you up on it.

posted 03-27-2008 03:59 PM            

Is the blow you make for the impression with a hand held hammer or drop hammer? If hand hammered, What precautions are made to avoid chatter?

posted 03-27-2008 04:47 PM            

Here is a sheaf of wheat swaged handle on a spoon marked S. BROWN, for Samuel Brown, also of New York. I think it is slightly different from "C" above, but may just be worn down.

posted 03-28-2008 08:19 AM            

I am moving my workshop and perhaps I should sell it so I do not have to move it.... When I bought it at an auction of a jewelry school in Providence, RI I thought it would be useful some day to knock out small decorative items like Swarters die. But that is not my style and that sort of job has never come along from a customer.

posted 04-23-2019 06:39 PM            

I can see where the die is placed over or under the handle and then one or the other struck - but is that all there is to it? Or is there planning involved where the silversmith works some extra thickness into the handle in preparation of adding the design and then puts it on and then takes time to finish off around it. On my spoon there is no hint of any depression on the back or any hint of any die marks other than the design on top. There is an ever-so-slight thinness to the handle where the design is - but it is barely noticeable unless you think about it.

I also see that they put this design on the backs of bowls of spoons. Would this go on (maybe the same for birdbacks) when flat and then the bowl formed? If it goes on when the bowl is already formed - how did they do that so as not to have any corresponding marks or registrations on the other side of the bowl?

Tks in advance.

posted 04-24-2019 10:19 AM            

agleopar, is that correct?

See Video

IP: Logged

posted 05-25-2019 12:09 PM            

If the basket of flowers was struck on the handle nothing further would be done after except minor curving and finishing to the now hardened handle.

Swarter should jump in here because these are his dies and he did send them to me... if I remember rightly, after my usual procrastination I made a spoon and tried to hand hammer the silver into the basket of flowers die.

I failed miserably! Lesson learned:

1) The dies would need the mechanical force and alignment of a drop press, kick press or hydraulic press.

2) The dies were very deep and may not have been intended for spoons but appliqué (struck, cut out and soldered on to something - holloware or perhaps a large spoon)...