posted 02-21-2008 08:51 PM            

Wev's excellent American Silversmiths project helped me realize that our family silver contains pieces from several points in a web of Philadelphia makers connected by family and business ties.

Philip Garrett worked from 1801-1828 on his own, then with his son Thomas Cresson Garrett 1828-1835 as Philip Garrett & Son. Tablespoons and teaspoons in by Philip Garrett are the oldest silver here -- classic plain fiddle-pattern spoons with sharp shoulders and pointed bowls.

Thomas Garrett married Frances Biddle. He worked on his own and with partners from 1836-1860 (marks T.C. Garrett and T.C. Garrett & Co.).

Elizabeth C. Garrett, Philip's daughter, married Frances' brother William Biddle. Their two sons were John W. Biddle and Samuel Biddle.

John W. is the Biddle of Krider & Biddle (1860-1870), which succeeded Peter L. Krider's solo business (1850-1860) and was followed by P.L. Krider & Co. (1870-1888).

Samuel Biddle is the Biddle of Bailey, Banks & Biddle. He apprenticed with Thomas C. Garrett 1857, took over his business at some point after 1860 as Clark & Biddle. That became Robbins, Clark & Biddle (at least by 1876; they're in the catalog for the Centennial exhibition) and then in 1878 the Bailey, Banks & Biddle we know today. I've seen items by other makers (including Krider) retailed by Clark & Biddle, but it seems likely they also made some items, at least early on.

The Bailey thread leading to Bailey, Banks & Biddle begins with Bailey & Kitchen (1832-1848), which became Bailey & Co. (manufacturing 1852-1866) before the final BB&B. (Recently, most of the pieces I've seen marked 'Bailey & Kitchen' are made by Taylor & Lawrie.)

The Banks of BB&B is George Banks, who left the J.E. Caldwell company to found its biggest competitor.

Much of Peter Krider's work was for J.E. Caldwell & Co., including his first commission. Before opening his own business, Krider was a foreman in the factory of Robert & William Wilson, where he had also served as a journeyman, years earlier.

In the silver drawer here are pieces made by Philip Garrett, R.&W. Wilson, P.L. Krider, and Bailey & Co., and a number of things sold through J.E. Caldwell. I'm looking forward to adding to them with items made by Philip Garrett & Son, Thomas Garrett, T.C. Garrett & Co., early Peter Krider, Krider & Biddle, Clark & Biddle, possibly Robbins, Clark & Biddle, and Bailey & Kitchen.

Scored a "two-fer" in my first effort! This coin silver sugar sifter was made by PLK and retailed by Clark & Biddle. (Is it just me, or does the design of the bright-cut engraving have a German flavor?)

One of the attractions of this project is the opportunity to acquire some examples of the mid-19th-century 'oval' patterns that appeal to me so strongly (Olive, Empire, Josephine, etc.), and a little bit more coin silver.

There's also the historical aspect; the network of makers spans the transition from small-shop, apprentice-system smiths to bigger workshops to the "manufactories" and the giant retailers that sold their output to customers all over the eastern seaboard and beyond.

posted 03-10-2009 02:39 AM            

Jediah or Jedediah Clarke was born in Maine in about 1832. He is found in the 1850 U S Federal Census for Saco, Maine living with and working as a goldsmith with George J Johnson. The census's give the impression that George is Jedediah's brother in law.