Fred van Staden presents:
Joe Calafato: A South African creative jeweller and
silversmith (1947-1984)
Joe Calafato designed and manufactured silver jewellery,
flatware and hollowware during the mid to late 20th
century in a career spanning 37 years in Pretoria, South
Africa. His work made an important contribution to the
development of a uniquely South African design domain
and has become increasingly sought after at antique and
collectible markets.
Of Sicilian parentage, Giuseppe Leonardo Calafato was
born on the 10th of July 1912 in the then Lorenço
Marques (now Maputo) Mozambique. In the 1920s the family
moved to Johannesburg. Here he did his apprenticeship as
a manufacturing jeweller under Jack Friedman - a well
known local jewellery manufacturer of his time.
From April 1938 until June 1945, Joe worked for the
South African Mint in the capacity of Jeweller and
Silversmith in the Medal and Badge Department.....
click here
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Welcome to new ASCAS members:
Tristan Caines - Australia
Clayton LaVoie - USA
Stan Miller - USA
Manuel Ponce - Spain
Renato Serena - Italy
Yosef Shlingbaum writes:
...May I ask for your help in finding the origin & date of this
magnificent silver filigree spice box?
Thank you,
Yosef Shlingbaum
A hypothesis could be "Malta", but I have little knowledge
about Maltese hallmarks.
Any help will be welcome
Giorgio Busetto
Allen Carlson writes:
I have recently purchased a Sterling cake knife by Georg Jensen.
Can someone in the group assist me in naming the pattern?
I have looked in all the references that I have and cannot find
the pattern name or number.
Thanks,
Allen Carlson
Reg Lennox writes:
...I have a set of silver tableware for 6 made in Portugal and
marked with the cocks head turned left over 833. I have been
able to identify the mark as being of the town of Porto and
after 1938. I have not however been able to identify the maker
or pattern and have included a hand drawn facsimile of the mark
in the hope that someone can. They must have used a very minute
stamp as the cancellation mark is only about 3/4 of a millimeter
wide and the makers mark less than 2 mm wide.
As an interesting side note, when I received the set one of the
knife handles was loose so I removed it for repair and found
that the handle itself was very heavily cast in 2 pieces. Out of
curiosity wondering exactly how much silver was used in the
casting I removed all of the cutlers resin within and weighed
the handle. To my amazement I found that the manufacturer had
used an astonishing 62 grams of silver to cast the handle. The 6
forks and spoons weigh 594 grams.
No shortage of silver in Portugal I guess!
Reg Lennox
Paola Continella writes:
...I'm trying to obtain information about the marks of this
little spoon.
I trust in your assistance for the identification
Paola Continella
I believe they are ancient Swiss hallmarks, but I need to be
confirmed and, possibly, receive further information and details by someone more
acquainted about the matter.
Giorgio Busetto
Luis Castelo Lopes writes:
...Once again I would like to ask for your help, or for the help
from someone among the ASCAS members.
Please find here the photos of a two handle silver bowl and of
its hallmarks which I have not been able to identify.
Could you please help me?
Best regards
Luis Castelo Lopes
Graham Hodges writes
The maker's mark on the sauce boat is that of Stephen Adams.
The mark is overstruck on top of another, but unfortunately
cannot make out who the original maker was.
Graham Hodges
Jolyon Warwick James writes
This maker's mark is surely an overstrike. One can see the
two overlapping cartouches and the witness marks on the
lettering SA - who may well be Stephen Adams. The latter looks
like it is overstriking something possibly beginning with I. A
closer and sharper image might enable one to decipher the
original mark.
Jolyon Warwick James
Laurence Joyce writes
In response to Zelda's question about the maker's mark on
her sauce boat: it appears to be Stephen Adams overstriking
another maker, perhaps someone with the second initial K. The
underlying maker's mark I take to be upside down in the
photograph.
Laurence Joyce
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This month ASCAS presents an ancient advertisement
of:
SIMPSON, HALL, MILLER & CO
WALLINGFORD CONN.USA
The firm was founded in 1866 by Samuel Simpson, a
Britannia ware manufacturer active in Wallingford, CT.
In 1878 he made a contract with William Rogers to
supervise the manufacture and marketing of Simpson,
Hall, Miller & Co 'Eagle' Brand.
In 1879 the firm established a Canadian branch in
Montreal: Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co (Canada).
In 1895 the firm started the manufacture of sterling
silverware and in 1898, being one of the original
founders, became part of the International Silver
Company
This image is part of the
ADVERTISEMENTS IN SILVER - SILVER ADVERTISING
section of www.silvercollection.it website
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"A WORD per MONTH"
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BEEHIVE HONEY-POT
Honey-pot is a receptacle used for serving honey in
the table.
Usually it is of cylindrical shape with a cover and,
often, a fixed saucer-like stand with a serving spoon.....
more
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"A SILVERSMITH per MONTH"
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JAMES DEAKIN & SONS
JAMES DEAKIN & SONS LTD
The firm was founded in
Sheffield by James Deakin in 1866.
The first mark was entered by the firm in Sheffield
Assay Office on 31 January 1878. It was a "JD" over "WD"
and, possibly, represented the partnership of James
Deakin and his son William Pitchford Deakin. The firm
was active at Sidney Works, Matilda Street, Sheffield.
In 1886 two further sons entered in the partnership,
John Deakin and Albert Deakin, and the firm was then
known as James Deakin & Sons.
Further marks were entered in London Assay Office (1888)
by William and John Deakin (subsidiary offices and
showrooms at 48 Holborn Viaduct, London), Chester and
Birmingham. Further offices and showrooms were opened at
Gardiner House, 14 Charterhouse Street, London, 34 St.
Enoch Square, Glasgow and 7 Queen Street, Belfast....
more
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"A CREST per MONTH"
BORTHWICK
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A Scottish family. A Negro's
head. The Latin motto is: Qui Conducit (He who leads)
The crest is on a silver spoon hallmarked Edinburgh
1829, maker 'AE' (possibly Adam Elder or Alexander
Edmonstoun III)
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Closing our JUNE 2014 edition of ASCAS Newsletter I hope you
have appreciated its content.
Your comments, suggestions and advice will be of great help.
My thanks to Allen Carlson, Luis Castelo Lopes, Paola Continella,
Graham Hodges, Jolyon Warwick James, Laurence Joyce, Reg Lennox,
Yosef Shlingbaum, Fred van Staden for their precious
contributions.
Giorgio Busetto
Secretary
DISCLAIMER AND PRIVACY POLICY
ASCAS is a community of people having a common
interest in antique silver.
It is a non-profit association without commercial links.
Membership is open to whomever has a true interest in
this subject matter.
ASCAS has no real property and no fees are requested nor
accepted from members.
ASCAS keeps in touch with its members only through
periodical newsletters, e-mails and web-site updating
and ignores and is not responsible for any other
activity pursued by its members.
Likewise, ASCAS is not responsible for opinions,
evaluation and images displayed, and in any form
published or supplied for publication, by its members
who, in any case, maintain the property of their works
and assure the respect of national and international
legislation about Intellectual Property.
ASCAS does not have the full addresses of its members (only
town, country and e-mail address are requested for
membership).
ASCAS handles and protects with care its members' e-mail
addresses, will not disclose the addresses to third
parties, will use this information only to reply to
requests received from members and for communications
strictly related to its activity.
These rules are expressly accepted by submitting the
membership request.
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newsletter
# 121 June 2014
