posted 06-11-2007 08:39 PM            

This is my first post.

I read the board from time to time but mostly to observe and learn. I do have a great interest in southern coin silver, pre 1840 from the Norfolk/Portsmouth, Virginia area. Which brings me to my topic....

I want to open the discussion about a piece at auction (6-11-07) that is claimed as a Geddy or Gaskins. Since the seller asked for comments on the maker, this is what I submitted. I have edited it for brevity:

quote:

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Hello,
I highly doubt it is Gaskins or Geddy.....but am speaking more to the Gaskins claim. I have never seen any evidence that Gaskins used the mark of JG or IG.

Furthermore, folks I have talked with (including the smiths at Williamsburg where Geddy had his shop) who have a lot more expertise on Geddy than I do, doubt there is anything of his available. However, I have seen some very lovely Geddy pieces at the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, Virginia.

There are several other smiths listed in a number of silver books who could be the maker.

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Thanks!

posted 06-11-2007 10:11 PM            

If it will put your mind at ease,since you have already forwarded your opinion to the seller, I will say that as far as I personally am aware there is nothing incorrect in what you have said, but any further speculation will have to wait until wa are free to explore the subject without restraint. We have participating members who are knowledgeable about soouthern silver, so I am sure the discussion will be interesting and informative.

In the meantime tell us a bit more about yourself so that we can get to know you better.

I might add that, should you be able to get permission from the seller to open a public discussion of the piece - and post his photographs - while the auction is ongoing, we might be able to proceed, subject top the approval of the modeerators of this subforum.

posted 06-11-2007 10:24 PM            

• J. Gaskins Exhibit

posted 06-12-2007 07:40 AM            

Sorry about not following the Guidelines and posting about an ongoing auction. My fault as I barely glanced at the posting guidelines. A bad habit of mine when around anything Gaskins.

In any event....I look forward to the discussion when the auction concludes.

posted 06-17-2007 04:58 PM            

I have a comment or two, but first wanted to say that I think it high time that Colonial Williamsburg did ole Geddy proper justice and assembled an exhibit with catalog of his silver work. It would be a tremendous asset to the scholarship of Southern decorative arts, and might stir some much needed interest in early Virginia silver. I feel strongly enough on this that I have e-mail CW to see if this might be a possibility. They really owe it to Geddy after all these years.

posted 06-26-2007 07:52 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Fitzhugh:
I think it high time that Colonial Williamsburg did ole Geddy proper justice and assembled an exhibit with catalog of his silver work. I feel strongly enough on this that I have e-mail CW to see if this might be a possibility.

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I wanted to read the posting guidelines (so I don't goof up again ) before responding...but I am all for a Geddy exhibit. In fact Fitzhugh I will join you and email CW and express my interest as well. Thanks for getting the ball rolling!

As I stated in an earlier post, I have seen some of his work (I am repeating myself again.... not at CW where he had his shop and they stated that they had very little of his) and it is very high quality. (There had been the belief that Gaskins was indentured to Geddy; but after much digging, the facts weren't there to continue to support that claim).