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unknown partnership E & I

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Author	Topic: unknown partnership E & I
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 Registered: Apr 99	posted 05-19-2015 11:21 AM This is one of my old mysteries. The mark is struck twice on a late period hanoverian tablespoon measuring a full 9 1/2 inches and of good weight. I haven't found the mark in any of my references, nor any possibles. The ampersand is distinctive, so I went through all my marks looking for a similar form. I found nine, all from Connecticut and most from New Haven. Looking then at likely makers of appropriate period and surname, I have: Elisha Elderkin (New Haven) Alfred Elderkin (Windham) David Ellsworth (Windsor) Jacob Jennings, sr (Norwalk) Miles Johnson (Wallingford) Only Alfred is known to have had a partner, John Staniford, c 1790. I'm not sure this gets me anywhere and this is a restrictive survey, of course, given the nature of my project, but it may lead somewhere some day. Or not. [This message has been edited by wev (edited 05-19-2015).] IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 05-19-2015 03:22 PM Whoever E and I were, I ADORE their ampersand! It looks like a squid doing the limbo. IP: Logged
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 Registered: Apr 93	posted 05-19-2015 04:17 PM WEV, I know you know your way around type faces and you can personally inspect the mark, so when you say it is E & I, I trust you are correct. To me the photo and a little imagination says it could also be F & I. Is there a better fit if it is F & I??? IP: Logged
swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 Registered: May 2003	posted 05-19-2015 04:47 PM Scott, the bottom bar of the E has a triangular serif like the top one, but the bar is longer, and the tarnish is not uniform, so it is difficult to see, but I don't question it. IP: Logged
swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 Registered: May 2003	posted 05-19-2015 04:52 PM quote: Originally posted by Polly: Whoever E and I were, I ADORE their ampersand! It looks like a squid doing the limbo. Polly, the slanted ampersand is what I call a "lazy eight", but I like your analogy. IP: Logged
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 Registered: Apr 99	posted 05-19-2015 05:53 PM I'm with Polly, too -- from now on it's a 'squidersand'. I am told that the form is also found on Scottish provincial marks, but I don't feel that is a possibility here. It does lead to some speculation, given the use cluster around New Haven, that there may have been a Scots die sinker there who cut what he knew. IP: Logged
asheland Posts: 935 Registered: Nov 2003	posted 05-20-2015 10:50 AM Can we see the entire spoon? It sounds interesting! IP: Logged
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 Registered: Apr 99	posted 05-20-2015 11:03 AM Not very good images, front and back [This message has been edited by wev (edited 05-20-2015).] IP: Logged
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 Registered: Apr 99	posted 05-20-2015 11:06 AM IP: Logged
asheland Posts: 935 Registered: Nov 2003	posted 05-20-2015 12:51 PM Nice looking spoon! I'd say American, it looks like my Hollingshead example from Philadelphia. IP: Logged
asheland Posts: 935 Registered: Nov 2003	posted 05-20-2015 01:00 PM 1760-70? IP: Logged
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 Registered: Apr 99	posted 05-20-2015 01:33 PM Thanks quote: 1760-70? Yes, that would be my estimate. IP: Logged
asheland Posts: 935 Registered: Nov 2003	posted 05-21-2015 09:34 AM I really like that spoon! Great example! IP: Logged
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 Registered: Apr 99	posted 05-25-2015 10:42 AM As often happens, I stumbled across this while looking for some thing else: "E & I [Unidentified] Cream pitcher. Pear shaped; splayed foot; gragooned edge and lip; twisted double scrolled handle. Engraved monogram E S E in escutcheon. Ht: 5 3/8 in. Wt: 4 oz, 7 Maker's mark "E & I" Roman in rectangle on bottom Lent by Mrs. Theodore M. Etting" Special Silver Catalogue Samuel W. Woodhouse, Jr. Bulletin of the Pennsylvania Museum Vol. 17, No. 68: June, 1921 No idea if this leads anywhere, but given the absence of any recorded E & I partnerships, thought it worth posting. Unfortunately, there is no image provided. The exhibition centered on work from Pennsylvania and adjoining areas, so I can only assume its inclusion was based on stylistic grounds. [This message has been edited by wev (edited 05-25-2015).] IP: Logged
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 Registered: Apr 99	posted 07-03-2015 04:31 PM While their search engine leaves a lot to be desired, I did manage to find this in the Winterthur online database It measures 4.25" long. There is no mono and nothing in their records to hint at an origin. Wonder if they'd be interested in a trade. . . ? IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 07-03-2015 09:15 PM Well, hello there, Ampersquid! IP: Logged
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 Registered: Apr 99	posted 07-03-2015 09:19 PM Indeed. To switch species, this is becoming my white whale. I hope I fare better. [This message has been edited by wev (edited 07-03-2015).] IP: Logged
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 Registered: Apr 99	posted 01-19-2017 06:05 PM I had to go up to my bank today to store a few things. When I opened the box, this spoon was on the top of the heap with a note attached that said "Solve Me." I wish I anything more to add, but I am still stumped. [This message has been edited by wev (edited 01-19-2017).] IP: Logged
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 Registered: Apr 99	posted 02-13-2017 08:54 PM I took some time today to poke around again. I found another marked piece, this time from a 1909 exhibition: LADLE Second quarter of Eighteenth Century Bowl in form of shell stem ending in scroll with drop in leaf form (Onslow pattern) Engr "Z H H" (Hoffman) L 13 inches Maker's mark E & I in rectangle Lent by R T Haines Halsey (Richard Townley Haines HALSEY b: 28 AUG 1865 d: FEB 1942; his papers are at Winterthur) The Hudson Fulton Celebration Catalogue of an Exhibition Held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art The sophisticated Onslow design never really caught on here and most examples are from the Philadelphia area. There are notable exceptions, however. Myer Myers made at least two ladles in this fashion in New York City c 1765-1775, which leads to a second bit of information. Mrs. Etting, who loaned the creamer mentioned above, also lent for the exhibition: FLAGON by Myer Myers Shaped molded base cast spout domed cover hinged elaborately scrolled handle Engraved with monogram "D V" Ht 9 in Wt 45 oz 4 Maker's mark Myers script in shaped rectangle on bottom It is at least interesting that a relative, Benjamin Etting, worked as a silversmith c 1768-1775 in NYC, having apprenticed to Myer Myers. Almost nothing is known of Etting past his likely birth in Philadelphia, his NYC freemanship in 1769, and death in Norwalk CT (having fled the British) on 24 May 1778. There were a number of family connections between the various Etting and Myers families in NYC. Another surname that pops up is Judah. This pertain, as Lewis Fueter advertised in the New-York Gazetteer of 12 May 1774 that he had ". . .removed to the house on Queen-Street, lately occupied by Mr. Judah, Silver Smith. . ." So who knows? Etting & Judah? I've written to MCNY and Winterthur; hoping for anything more. I'll keep you posted (if I get an answer this time). IP: Logged

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