Book Review St. Louis Silversmiths

St. Louis Silversmiths is a book I had been looking forward to examining for a few weeks now. Ever since I purchased a Mermond-Jaccard silverplate tea service that I gave as a Christmas present, but for some reason failed to get a picture of. At any rate, Mermond-Jaccard was a major maker and jewelry store in St. Louis. In doing research on them I found this book and ordered it through my ILL account. I did this right before the holiday and have been waiting for it to arrive. Over the holiday I also had the chance to view a few books recently purchased by a friend and fellow collector. One I enjoyed was entitled Silversmiths of Kentucky. I looked forward to a complete and well researched book like this on St. Louis silversmiths. 

I was disappointed. 

While there is nothing particulary wrong with this volume its content and piece list were not the complete  

record of St. Louis Silversmiths I had hoped it would be. While this volume is not as good as other more specialized catalogs I had thought it to be, it is still an interesting if short read.

Made for an exhibit at the St. Louis Art Museum in 1980, the first six pages give a broad overview of silversmithing in St. Louis. The remainder of the books 39 pages is an alphabetical list of silversmiths that worked in the St. Louis area. The listings are simple giving a name approximate dates and a verbal description of their marks if they were available. There are also several pictures of silver made in St. Louis from its founding to the modern period.

This book does a good job of listing what it lists but I fear I have been spoiled by online databases of silver information. At a going rate of about $20.00 used I fear there are other books that will be in line before it for the library. However, I am grateful that even in its incomplete form that it is available for consultation.  

Book Review: The Elegance of Old Silverplate and Some Personalities Edmund P. Hogan

I managed to get a copy of The Elegance of Old Silverplate and Some Personalities.  This book was written by Edmund P. Hogan and published in 1980 by Schiffer Publishing Ltd.  This is a pretty fantastic book.  Hogan covers the industry and industrial methods of silver plate in the first part stressing the amount of hand work that went into a piece. He focuses on the Victorian period which is considered by many to be the height of artistic silver plate production. Not in quantity but in quality and the unusual nature of the pieces.

The rest of the book separates out particular items with a brief commentary about use and history.  Hogan provides lots of representative pictures, showing high and lower grade wares. This is something that many books on silver leave out. They tend to focus on only exemplary examples while Hogan provides a variety.  Among the pictures are reprints of catalogue pages many of them from catalogues that are inaccessible to the average person.

The sections he covers are as follows:

Hand Chasing

            Hogan examines the way that silverplate was designed and hand worked in a factory setting. I feel that understanding this helps in identifying pieces because recognizing quality work means less reliance on marks to identify a time period and quality grade.

Sculpture for the Fairs

            Like Moskowitz Hogan covers the ways that fairs helped to drive trade and create a public for wares.

The first section is listed as Tablewares

Call Bells

Napkin Rings

Ice Pitchers

Butter Dishes

Dinner Casters

Pickle Casters

Cracker or Biscuit Jars

Nut and Fruit Bowls (or as many know them Brides baskets though there is a separate category for these)

Tea Sets

Spoon Holders (Spooners)

Oddities (spittoons, tooth pick holders, match safes, self pouring teapot, sardine boxes, celery stands, pepper boxes, mustache cups, mustache spoons and orange peelers)

Vintage Flatware (Primarily focusing on Vintage pattern, types of quality marks, unusual pieces and types of knives)

Children’s Silverware.

The second section is listed as Housewares.

            Card Receivers

            Jewel Caskets

            Brides Baskets

            Oil Lamps

            Lavatory sets

            Toilet Stands

            Toilet ware (brushes, combs, button hooks, mirrors, puff boxes)

The third sections are brief biographies on personalities in the silver industry.

             Ashbil Griswold

            W.W. Lyman

            The Rogers Brothers

            Joseph Bourne

You can see the details of the book here.

Book Review: Victorian Silverplated Holloware 1857, 1887, 1883

Victorian Silverplated Holloware:  
Tea Services, caster sets, ice water pitchers, card receivers, napkin rings, knife rest, toilet sets, goblets, cups, trays and waiters, epergnes, butter dishes, pickle casters, salts, tureens, communion services
Rogers Brothers Mfg. Co., 1857
Meriden Britannia Co., 1867
Derby Silver Co., 1883

1972
Wallace-Homestead Book Co.
Des Moines, Iowa

ISBN #0-87069-154-6

This is a fantastic book with a ridiculously long title and no clear single author. It consist of catalouge material (those found in the title) provided by the Historical Library of the International Silver Company (INSILCO) and assisted by the resident historian E. P. Hogan.  The introduction (pages 1-15) provide a brief overview of silver history and silver plate manufacturing in the United States. The authors then provide a brief reading list.

Chapter1

The first of three chapters covers the Rogers Brothers Mfg. Co.. Pages 17-18 are a short history of the company. Pages 19-38 are a reproduction of their catalogue from 1857. If you are attempting to learn period styles this is a very useful resource. If you are attempting to identify pieces, it might be possible to find your piece here, however, it would be pure luck if you came across it.

Rogers Brothers Mfg. Co. officially formed in 1853 from its beginnings as the William Rogers and Company. William Rogers being the oldest of the brothers. In 1847 William Rogers and Company first advertised that they could supply plated flatware on German silver. The catalogue reproduced here was created by Sarony, Major, and Knapp and was printed in two colours. It is essentialy line drawings of the line of wares avaliable. In 1862 the Rogers and Brothers Mfg. Co. was adsorbed into the Meriden Britannia Company.

Chapter 2

Chapter two is a paragraph covering the Meriden Britannia Company then the partial reproduction of their 1867 (138 page) catalouge Heavily Electro Plated Nickel Silver and White Metal Goods. This catalouge appears to be their first and started a trend of production that would lead to the massive 1886 catalogue of over 400 pages.  If you wish to see Victorian silverplate in its varied and interesting forms then this chapter is crucial to expanding your understanding. The variety of the goods and the clarity of the woodcuts are fascinating.

Chapter 3

Chapter three reprints part of the Derby Silver Company catalogue of 1883. Both Derby and Meriden would be founding members of the International Silver Company in 1898. The authors make the argument that comparison of the Derby and Meriden Britannia catalogue shows that Derby's designers "lacked something of the suavity and sophistication of those employed at Meriden" (page, 105) But they fail to realize that the catalogues are sixteen years apart and the market, styles and economics had changed for silverplate in that time. They do mention that this catalogue showed a shift towards oriental themes being popular in silver. I own several pieces of Derby, and find it to be rather pleasing. Furthermore, as a less popular maker it helps to make Victorian and post Victorian silverplate affordable for a collector in my price range.  In fact I have my eye on a couple of Derby art nouveau candlesticks downtown.

Of all three catalogues published here the Derby catalogue has the most interesting and  greatest variety of goods.

This book provides a minimum of original historical research, but as a text containing examples in a format that allows a longitudinal historical comparison it is fantastic. This is a text that lends itself to original research.  This fills an important niche in silver research. The price of original catalogues is astronomical,  further most catalogues held by libraries are only viewable if you happen to visit. Books like this one fill an important area for the silver enthusiast. this book itself is becoming a bit rarer. I had to borrow my copy from the Iowa State University Library. But it is available from time to time at the usual online book retailers.

The Derby Factory

 

Wiliam Babcock's book from 1708 A New Touch-Stone for Gold and Silver Wares

A quick perusal of the table of contents is well worth your time. It covers the types of items made, counterfeiting, and manufacturing techniques. 

Mappin & Webb's Catalogue 1881

Time Period and Art.

One of the best ways to quickly identify a piece of silver is by understanding the decorative styles used in different time periods. The way a piece of the decorative arts is shaped generally shapes the popular conventions of what is considered ascetically pleasing.   I am still working on this process. The relationship between the fine arts and the decorative arts is a close one. 

Having asked several art professors how to get better at this the most common answer has been experience. Visiting museums or viewing a piece of the decorative arts on the internet I try to guess the time period, then look at the time period (checking myself) then learn the style. I have asked a few art professors what the best text is to learn the different movements and the unamious answer is Gardner's Art Through the Ages. Here is a link to the book on Amazon. This seems to be the book on art history. I used it in art history in college in the late nineties and it is still a popular text that is revised often (I think it may be in the 13th edition). New it can be a bit pricey but there are plenty of older copies knocking around. A good investment I think. Plus its size, makes it an impressive book to leave out on the table when your snooty friends come by.

Another source that gives a really quick overview specific to silver can be found here at Silver Fox Antiques.  They also have a general guide to dating silver here.  It is on a commercial website (which I neither support or deride) but it was nice of them to take the time to generate some educational material. They seem to specialize in antique silver. It would be nice of them to put some examples up but then again that is the sort of material that this blog can help to fill in. Like so many other things perhaps we will get to that.

This is a great resource: The Meriden Silver Plate Co. 1883 Catalouge

The Meriden Name Problem

Meriden Connecticut was center of silver and silver plate manufacturing. There were a few companies with Meriden in their name and I thought a short list might be useful to understanding the difference between them. (Similar names is an issue that has often been a source of confusion to me don't even get me started on flatware manufacturers)  The formation of the International Silver Company helped to consolidate these companies but it still used a variety of marks from the companies that formed it to indicate levels of quality.

A Few Facts (these will be on the test): The Meriden Silver Plate Co.

1. The Meriden Silver Plate Co. Was started in 1869.

2. It's factories were in Meriden Connecticut.

3. It helped form the International Silver Company in 1898.

4. It is not the same company as the Meriden Britannia Company.

5. Marks used into the 1930's.

6. Marks read: The Meriden Silver Plate Co., The Meriden S.P.Co., International S.Co., Eureka Silver Co.,   

A Few More Facts:  The Meriden Britannia Company

1. Started in 1852.

2.  First formed for creating Britannia (white metal) Hollowware.

3.  Offering plated ware by 1855

4.  In 1862 joined by the Rogers Brothers. (who used the 1847 Rogers Brothers mark from Hartford)    -the mess of "Rogerses" is something we will seek to unravel later.

5.  Had London and Canadian Branches.

6. Had sales offices in New York, Chicago, and San Fransisco.

7. 1898 - One of the founding members, and leading organizers of the International Silver Company.

8. The Meriden Britannia Company's marks were used until the 1930's.

9. Marks read Meriden B. Company, Sillimans Silver Ring, M.B. Co, M B C E P (in shields)

You can make a comparison of  the Meridian Britannia Company and the Meriden Silver Plate Co. marks at two wonderful sites.

First is the site 925-1000, they have an awesome list of marks, and a great library.

You can view it here.

Second is The Online Encyclopedia of American Silver Marks. This site is also a great resource for the collector.


You can view it here.

One More Meriden: Meriden Britannia Co. LTD.

1. Located in Hamilton Ontario.

2. Founded in 1879.

3. Canadian branch of Meriden Britannia Company.

4. Produced flatware (1847 Rogers, sterling)

5. Merged with International Silver Co. of Canada ~ 1912

Another Company: Meriden Cutlery Company

1. Early founding  - 1834

2. Started by  G. and D.N. Ropes (cutlery manufacturers) in Maine.

3. Business acquired by Julius Pratt & Co. of Meriden

4. 1845 merger creates Pratt, Ropes, Webb & Co. -located in Hanover Connecticut

5. 1855 Joint stock company Meriden Cutlery Company formed located in South Meriden Connecticut.

6. 1866 Purchased by Landers, Fray and Clarke.

7.  Landers, Fray and Clarke out of business in the 1960's

8. Made table cutlery, carving sets,  pearl handled cutlery, carving knives with sterling silver blades, some sterling

9. A January 2, 1891 Advertisement list their "Patented Celluloid Handle"

You can view this advert here.


The New Your Times had this to say about the Company in 1877.

Sale of American Cutlery

February 14, 1877, Wednesday

"The first public sale of cutlery under the auspices of the Table Cutlery Manufacturers' Association of the United States comprising the Beaver Falls Cutlery Company, Landers, Frary Clark, John Russel Cutlery Company, Meriden Cutlery Company, Chicago Cutlery Manufacturing Company, and Lamson Goodnow Manufacturing Company was begun yesterday."

You can read the whole article in .pdf here.

Two Final Meridens

1. Meriden Jly Co. or Meriden Jewelry Co.

2. Meriden Sterling Co. 1896-1904

The work A Historical Record and Pictorial Description of the Town of Meriden, The Town of Meriden Connecticut "The Silver City" (1906) By Charles Bancroft Gillespie, George Munsor Curtis covers the history of manufacturers in Meriden. Large sections of the book focus on the International Silver Company and covers at length both the Meriden Britannia Company and the Meriden Silver Plate Co. as well as other silver companies. It also gives the general history of the town on Meriden. This is an invaluable resource.

American silver, the work of seventeenth and eighteenth century silversmiths, exhibited at the Museum of fine arts, June to November, 1906

Today should be a busy day so I will leave you one archive. This is a museum catalogue from 1906. It contains silver of a type I could never afford, but it is interesting to make a study of the writing and the forms that were popular at a given time.

Rogers & Brother price list book 1882.

My girlfriend found this research treasure for me. I know off the top of my head that I own several Olive spoons, a handful of threaded and tipped, and one piece of crown. It is fascinating to see the trade catalouge with them displayed.

Book Review: Standards of Living

There is not a great deal of research done on silver as a cultural or material object. Most books focus on maker and style recognition, techniques or production, and history of the objects themselves. These books are important to the collector and in the future we will focus on many of them. However there is a book, part of the inspiration to start this blog that focuses on silver as a cultural object.

I like holding a piece of silver that has historical value. Last night I identified some forks I bought for two dollars, that were made in 1848. I was amazed that they had survived so long and ended up in front of me. Often I wonder about the way that silver was manufactured and the place that it held in peoples lives.

While doing research on publications about silver I have come across one volume that does a serious job of looking at silver as a phenomenological object in humans lived experiences. Standards of Living: the Measure of The Middle Class in America by Marina Moskowitz (published by John Hopkins University Press, 2004) is the only book I know of that looks at the rise of silver plate manufactures as a case study for the rise of the middle class and their standards, while linking it to the second industrial revolution in the U.S. at the end of the nineteenth century and beginning of the twentieth.

Standards of Living is well researched and uses material objects and their use as means of showing the reader that there were visible, measurable periods in the creation of the middle class. It focuses on silverware, bathroom fixtures, Mail order homes, and zoning. As a book on class sociology it is well reasoned and presented. However, unless you are a sociologist it may not be on the whole that interesting.

That being said, the first chapter follows the silver plate industry in the course of its development and contains a wealth of research on the industry at the height of its prosperity. It tends to focus on Reed and Barton, and documents, with original research, the ways that that company (and others) negotiated the idea that silver was an upper class object (attempting to maintain silver as a special object) and the need to move product as and to a mass.

Chapter one The Standard of Etiquette: Silverplate Flatware also contains a rich bibliography that is useful to anyone working on research in silver. If you are looking for what pattern gradma's forks are, then this volume is useless. However, if you are obsessed with silver and wonder how it functions as a representation of cultural desire as a hermeneutic then this I think is the only option you have unless you write your own book.

I am still reading through it so perhaps there will be more to report later.