posted 01-04-2009 07:44 PM            

In the eye of the tiger!

Glad you had a place to vent. Stay cool, & Happy New Year!

Now, Let's see that neat piece you did get!

posted 01-05-2009 11:19 AM            

With the Pell funeral, Newport is probably out.

posted 01-05-2009 11:32 AM            

I do feel for your plight.... And if you have been trying to make a purchase for 40 years from this one dealer, he must be doing a lot of things right. Otherwise he would have been out of business a long time ago.

This dealer has to be "user friendly", which means folks can and do buy, and he is easy to deal with, or he has a selection that people really like. He is also very very good at what he does. He has to have an excellent reputation, otherwise folks would go elsewhere to sell their silver, and if it was really overpriced, he would be out of business.

His prices may be a little high (or a lot high) for you, but his tastes coincide with yours. Like me, you are thrifty and consider how and where you spend your money on silver. But, you have lusted after his merchandise for 40 years. Just like a kid in an overpriced candy store. But, boy, it sure is fun to look through the window! I still love to look.... and I own a "candy" store.

This dealer works his butt off.. To manage to get through the really slow times, like this recession we are in now, amazing. And to do it for at least 40 years, Hats off.

And yes, there are dealers I cannot buy from, but I can always try to sell to them. The exceptions are large shops and organizations, where the buyers are off-site.

And with business being in a down cycle right now, Argentum1, I am pleased that you made a purchase from anyone. Every sale helps.

Marc

posted 01-05-2009 06:44 PM            

Your spoon is just lovely. I would love to have any piece from that, (or earlier) era.

Re: Your encounter with that dealer. Does he negotiate with anyone else?

I had a friend once that would not budge, he felt his prices were fair & too bad if you didn't like it, don't buy it. OTOH his wife felt it was part of the "game", so she would raise the prices (when he was not there) just so she could negotiate down, (when he was not there), to the price he wanted. Crazy!

For me, if I like it & feel the price is right, (Do the homework), & I have the money, no question, I buy it. Sometimes I Love an item but don't have enough, so I just tell the dealer my situation & see if we can't work something out. If not, as my friend keeps telling me, it's not meant to be for me. Not too comforting, but hey, with the internet et al now, I'll find it sooner or later I hope!!!!!! Then there are the days I've gone without Lunch or Dinner for a week to get something to put the food in my mouth, with no food to eat . That's crazy too!

Then the days, I've been dumpster diving or some such & have come up with treasures to justify and/or pay for what I really want.

BTW when I do buy I try to keep in mind that if, (like now), hard times come, can I recoup my investment.

Hope this all makes sense to you.

Jersey

posted 01-05-2009 07:44 PM            

Quoting you..

"We get along fine and when he closes I will probably miss him and our good conversations. For me antiquing is a pleasurable social event more so than just buying 'stuff'."

This is so on point.. If you're not having fun, why bother.

posted 01-05-2009 10:44 PM            

It could be consigned. Many consigners can have crazy notions on prices, particularly silver. If the nonsilver is reasonably priced, you take it and eventually return the silver.

It could be held for trading stock. Some picker may be willing to trade good china etc for silver at a fixed discount. So the prices are high for that reason.

There might be a problem with the title. The pieces are warm, not hot. A high price in such an instance serves as a protection. If the item is seized, a high price results in a bigger tax write off. And claim to the crime victims fund.

posted 01-06-2009 10:08 AM            

Spoons from this period are not all that uncommon, and with a bit of time and knowledge you can probably find one inexpensively. I've been collecting for about 20 years now, and many of my federal spoons were got for $20 or less. If you recognize the forms and the look of old silver, you can often find pieces, especially unmarked examples, for as little as $5. Don't think you have to spend a lot to get a 200 yr old spoon; knowledge can make up for money!

posted 01-06-2009 05:59 PM            

Thank you so much for your info. If I may ask, is there much in the way of serving pieces from that era, and if so in a similar price range? I really need to do my homework for that time period. Are most marked or not? What might be considered a rare find in flatware? If not marked is there a good way, to tell if it is coin, & am I correct in thinking that pieces from that period are?

For Argentum:
Have you ever tried, or has that dealer ever asked to buy from you, or have you ever offered to sell to him? That might be interesting.

posted 01-06-2009 09:45 PM            

Brent

If you know where I can buy more very good condition Bright cut spoons like the one above for $20.00 each please let me know. I would like very much to acquire some at that price.

posted 01-06-2009 11:17 PM            

The price break, in American coin of this era, is 1800. Brite cut work places an American coin spoon, usually, before 1800.
All other things being equal, the older, the more expensive.

As far as information, the Kovel coin silver book has some pages illustrating spoon design through time. Also the index of the "Ineson-Bissell collection book by Belden, has great photos of design development.

Practice looking at and feeling coin silver. Most dealers (myself included), are happy to help in your education.

And, some of my most profitable finds have come from picking coin out of bins of plated wares.

You want to learn.. Ask us (me included). Always happy to answer..

posted 01-07-2009 08:02 AM            

My first great purchase was a circa 1760 American tablespoon in excellent condition, described as European ca. 1850. How did I recognize it? I had just been going through a copy of Ernest Currier's book on American silver marks in my college library, and memorized his progression of drawings of different spoon styles. As such, I knew what it was as soon as I saw it.

posted 01-07-2009 11:01 AM            

Early plain spoons abound and as you say are quite inexpensive as well as a good starting point for newbies. After years of collecting I now perfer to collect the bright cut versions. You mention great finds; a long time ago I walked into a small shop and after rummaging through trays of spoons I saw a beaded rattail 8 1/4 inch spoon in excellent condition but no price. I took the spoon up to the lady and inquired as to the price as there was no sign or tag. I almost fell over when she said "Well it's just an old pewter spoon so how about $5.00. For a pewter spoon that age $5.00 would have been an exceptionally good price. What I knew, that apparently she did not, was that it was early colonial American Silver with the mark of Johannis Nys of Philadelphia 1671-1734. After I picked myself up off the floor and paid the lady I walked out the door thinking I just died and went to silver heaven. Very few times has this happen, doggonit anyway. I have long since sold it to buy a feather edge ladle and a nice bright cut ladle with change left over. I almost felt guilty but she was a dealer and should have known what she had.

[This message has been edited by argentum1 (edited 01-07-2009).]

posted 01-07-2009 07:05 PM            

Thank you again. It is from people like you that I have gained much of my knowledge, i.e.,those willing to share info. You & this Forum are really the exceptions. I try too whenever possible to share with others. I find it makes better buyers & sellers. It makes buying & selling based on an informed choice.

I will try & find Kovel's & give it a look see. I am very fond of books with pictures, I have a sort of/ kind of photographic memory. (That's how I found my really great George Adams Canova pattern, from a picture in Bill Hood's Tiffany book!)

More than that I am a touchy feeley person. Once I see it & touch it I keep that in my feeble brain. I may not always remember who's it is but I know it to be something & again if it's affordable I go for it & research it further when I get home.

Hope to meet you someday.

To Brent!

Thank you as well! Will look for the Currier book too.

Jersey

posted 01-08-2009 11:16 PM            

You can find the Kovel book,"American Silver Marks", in most Libraries, and probably photocopy the pages involved.

Concerning meeting me, I do shows, and Scott (our fearless leader.. all hail) can give you my contact information.

Sorry, I have no hockey trophy stories.