Two Dollar Plate, French Sterling

I picked this up for two dollars yesterday at a junk store on a lark. I did not see any of the usual marks, just ones I could not really see clearly. It was heavy, tarnished (it sat in the sink overnight and was much worse)  but it did not have any sorts of the usual silver plate marks. I liked the detail of the flowers on it (the picture does not do it justice) but was wary because it is a small piece and seems to be missing something.  I don't know what the center is for it is the size of a teacup. I think that is what I may do with it. 

The marks were confusing. I looked in Rainwater's book first this did not help. There are two marks I had a hard time seeing.  I knew it had a Minerva head, so I did some internet searching. It also had another head in a square cartouche. At first I thought it might be Dutch. This did not pan out. Then I thought it might be Russian. It was close (the mark was so hard to see) but this did not turn out. Then I figured out that it was French. I still have a lot I am trying to learn about international hallmarks, and I rely heavily on this wonderful site. 925-1000 is one of my go to places on the internet for information. 

As an online encyclopedia of silver they are second to none. I could not do my work without them. So not only did they help me confirm the assay mark as being french, they had information on the maker. 

Turns out it is Emile Delaire who worked from 1882 to 1920. 

I could not have asked for a better deal, a better research site, or a better dish. Thats pretty good if I do say so myself. 

Little Cup from the Van Bergh Silver Plate Company and Some Company History

 

This past weekend on Super Silver Saturday I also picked up this little cup for a pittance. It does not look like much right now because of the tarnish, but the plate is underneath. I gave it a quick once over and that made a small dent in the black and nasty but it will take a bit more to get it clean. Sometimes tarnish comes off like a breeze and sometimes it takes seven or eight polishing sessions to recover a piece. 

This piece on the outside wall has a very fine texture, a floral motif and a scrolled handle. It is marked Van Bergh Silver Plate Co. Rochester New York, Quadruple Plate and "738". The rim could be in better condition, but I still like it. 

The Van Bergh Silver Plate Company was founded in 1892 by Fredrick W. and Maurice H. Van Bergh. They were brothers. In 1925 they incorporated as the Van Bergh Silver Plate Company Inc. In 1926 they were absorbed by Oneida Community Limited and moved from Rochester to Oneida New York. (Rainwater, 2006) According to Rainwater they also used a mark reading "Britannia Metal Co." (with or without a star), V B Co N S (letters in boxes,  NS I am guessing means nickel silver) as well as with marks bearing their name.

Silver Collection has a picture of their mark here. 

Van Bergh gets a brief mention and a picture of their works in the trade magazine The Metal Industry Vol. 20 1920.

Electroplating Room of the Van Bergh Silver Plate Company Rochester NY

The Van Bergh Silver Plate Company's plant in Main street west is the only concern of its kind in Rochester. Frederick W. Van Bergh is president of the company. George Hesselink, president of the Rochester Branch, is in charge of the plating department.

Van Bergh seems to have been expanding in May of 1920 as Merchandising Week reports that they had filed for a patent on light fixtures.



The Metal Record and Electroplater in 1902 Vol 3 Issue 11 mentions a connection with the Ordnance Department, but not what it was.

"M. H. Van Bergh, vice-president of the Van Bergh Silver Plate Co., Rochester, N. Y., recently offered his services gratis to General Crozier of the Ordnance Department. On Wednesday, Nov. 7, he received a wire to come to Washington. Mr. Van Bergh arranged his business and left Thursday for the capital."



Their plant Experienced a fire at some point and relocated according to Platers Guide Vol 1 1905 it seems that they remained a small firm during this time:

"The Van Bergh Silver Plate Company, of Rochester, N. Y., whose plant was recently destroyed by fire, will rebuild, and have purchased the site of the Roby Building on Main street, West. The new building will cover the whole site from Main and Hill streets to the canal. Part of the building will be rented, as it will be too large for their own use."



In 1898 The Van Bergh Silver Plate company was also a member of the Humane Society.



Van Bergh gets a small paragraph about the opening of the Silversmiths Building in Chicago in The Jewlers Circular May 24 1897. The whole article about the building is well worth a read.

"OTHER TENANTS.

The Van Bergh Silver Plate Co., J. C. Carroll, manager, occupy quarters on the 4th floor of the Silversmiths' building, and Chas. A. Allen, silver plater, will be ready this week to use his improved appliances on the 5th floor. The fixtures for his factory are all new, and were being placed in position last week, C. A. Allen having cut short his Florida visit to return here and superintend the new work."