|
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
 John Proctor Trott spoons--date?
|
 SSFFriend: Email This Page to Someone! |
next newest topic | next oldest topic |
| Author | Topic: John Proctor Trott spoons--date? |
|
Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 06-18-2011 06:31 PM
  
Six John Proctor Trott teaspoons followed me home from the flea market today. Want to help me guess the approximate date when they were made? They have rounded oval bowls, no shoulders or drop, and very slim fiddle handles. They're monogrammed "LS" in feathered script. The mark: Stylistically, this looks like the first decade of the 19th century to me. Does anyone agree or disagree? Wev's invaluable site has Trott born in 1776 and partnered with various other silversmiths at various times beginning in 1792 (John Proctor Trott). I don't know whether that puts constraints on when Trott would have used his own mark instead of the marks of the partnerships, and if so, whether it helps date these spoons and how. Searching I found a reference to JPT in Modern History of New London County, Connecticut" (PDF here. see pg 558) that gives his birth year as 1769, not 1776. IP: Logged |
|
Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 06-18-2011 06:40 PM
Zowie! I actually managed to make a live link! Woo-hoo! IP: Logged |
|
Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 06-18-2011 06:43 PM
And here's a completely irrelevant photo of a pair of unmarked coffin-fiddle teaspoons. I'm posting it for no better reason than that they also followed me home today, and who doesn't enjoy a nice coffin-fiddle teaspoon? IP: Logged |
|
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 |
posted 06-18-2011 06:50 PM
My dyslexic typing -- should read 1767, not 1776. Your spoons are probably from the 1800-1815 era, after his partnership with Jonathan Brooks and before his son Thomas achieved his majority. I wish I had a flea market like yours -- all I get around here is, well, fleas. IP: Logged |
|
Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 06-18-2011 06:52 PM
Thanks, wev! That makes more sense--I thought 16 was a little young to be forming a partnership. Fleas sometimes follow me home too. IP: Logged |
|
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 |
posted 06-18-2011 06:53 PM
I nicked your mark picture, as it is a variation I don't have -- hope that's okay? IP: Logged |
|
swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 |
posted 06-18-2011 07:06 PM
I would put the date of the spoons a bit later, maybe 1805 - 15, but almost certainly before 1820. The 1769 date is the one given in published references. To have been born in 1776 and working in 1792, he would have had to have finished his apprenticeship by age 16, 5 or 6 years earlier than was usual, but since he apprenticed with his father, the usual rules might not have applied. WEV will have to tell you why he has adopted the later date. Edit: I am a slow typer and started checking references after your first post - I refreshed before posting but none of the others showed! Your coffin-fiddles are from the same period. - too bad they are not marked. [This message has been edited by swarter (edited 06-18-2011).] IP: Logged |
|
swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 |
posted 06-18-2011 07:26 PM
He apparently had at least three of these script marks, which most people find hard to read correctly presumably because of the long loop on the P. Two of the marks are in ovals, one with periods after both the J and P and one like yours with only a period after the P. A third mark is in a conforming reserve without periods, as on wev's page. [This message has been edited by swarter (edited 06-18-2011).] IP: Logged |
|
Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 06-18-2011 08:15 PM
Wev-- Of course it's okay for you to use my photo--glad you find it useful. I stared at the mark for a long time wondering what combination of Ts, Fs, Js, or Ss the letters might be. I wouldn't have guessed if I hadn't found it on one of the online mark pages among the Ts. [This message has been edited by Polly (edited 06-18-2011).] IP: Logged |
|
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 |
posted 06-18-2011 08:24 PM
Thanks, Polly. That group of script characters is always tough. The mark (in variation) is in my Initial List, but you have to figure out that the first is a "J" to find it efficiently. IP: Logged |
|
Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 06-18-2011 10:14 PM
You know what? I think that IS where I first found it. I tried Ts and Js and Fs and Ss fairly randomly here and there until I saw that similar-looking mark on your initial list, and then I trotted around looking up Trott. 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 |
