ASCAS Association of Small Collectors of Antique Silver


newsletter # 175 December 2018
      site: www.ASCASonline.org   email: silverassociation@yahoo.it

YOUR GUIDE TO DECEMBER NEWSLETTER:
articles
    new members    members' window    mail to ASCAS    replies to questions    a page per month    a silversmith per month    a word per month
    a crest per month    a year per month    contributors to this Newsletter    search engine    disclaimer and privacy policy


 

2019 ASCAS membership

No fees are requested for ASCAS membership.
Members still interested to ASCAS and its activity are invited to send an e-mail to

confirming their 2019 membership (the simplest way is to use the 'reply' button on our December e-mail).
I apologize for this little effort asked to whoever appreciates and supports ASCAS activity.

No action is required to unsubscribe. Members not confirming their membership will be automatically deleted from the sending of our monthly Newsletter and will be suspended on February 2019.

Please accept my best wishes for a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Giorgio Busetto
ASCAS Secretary


A new article for ASCAS website

Katherine Palthey presents:

Silver Enameling Techniques: Plique-à-jour English version

"Plique à jour" (PAJ) is French for "letting in daylight" and is a vitreous enameling technique used since the 6th century AD. Enamel is colored glass or silica with which the addition of different chemical substances allows it to become this transparent or translucent material. In PAJ, this translucent enamel is applied in individual silver cells using a temporary backing. Once finished, the backing is removed by dissolving in acid or by rubbing off leaving the piece translucent. This allows the sunlight to shine through the glass projecting a colorful unique piece.

Today Plique à Jour remains the most difficult enameling technique produced by silversmiths. After a brief history, I will explain the differences between the three main enameling techniques: cloisonné, painted enamel and basse-taille. In this first part I will focus specifically on Plique à Jour (a type of cloisonné) and will share a few rare silver examples. In the second part of this article I will follow with a few Cloisonné silver collectibles to help you better understand this amazing silver technique....
click here
     English version


New members

Welcome to new ASCAS members:

Elizabeth Blakely - USA
Maggie Wihnyk - USA


Members' Window # 120

Pierre Saric presents:

A PLATTER FROM BAYONNE English version

A silver platter made by Jean-Baptiste Delane

The silver platter is from the French goldsmith Jean-Baptiste Delane, received master in 1757 and died in 1807. This goldsmith was registered in the community of Bayonne (France).

However, on the object, there are only the same three hallmarks of the goldsmith, and nothing else (without marks of tax farmer). This means that these are hallmarks of "maître abonné", a goldsmith exempted from certain formalities because too far from the tax farmer....
click here
     English version


Mail to ASCAS: e-mail silverassociation@yahoo.it

David McKinley writes:


The relationship between the two Peters Harache (Huguenot silversmiths) as recorded on the British Museum website is incorrect but they cite me as their primary source.
As I have failed to persuade them to rectify this error I now wish to publicly disassociate myself from it.
David McKinley


David McKinley devotes much of his time to researching the history of silversmithing in England with particular reference to hallmarking at the London office. He writes for both The Silver Spoon Club of Great Britain, The Silver Society and many of his articles about English silver have been published in ASCAS website.
David McKinley is the author of the book THE FIRST HUGUENOT SILVERSMITHS OF LONDON.
Giorgio Busetto


Mike Lawson writes:
I hope you can help me to understand a little more about a vermeil vase which appears to have an over stamped maker's mark on "G E & Son", and a thistle purity mark, castle Edinburgh town mark and date letter "h" 1899 or "n" 1894, and another mark which is obscure but possibly (or not) Queen Victoria's duty mark. Elsewhere, the vase is stamped 925 M, which presumably indicates sterling, but why mark silver purity twice on the one piece?
I am wondering if this was perhaps intended for the export market and that may explain why the maker's mark (possibly George Edward and Son of Glasgow) was over stamped with Edinburgh assay and retailer's marks.
The vase has a matching glass insert and is obviously intended for a table decoration. As it is vermeil and rococo in style, I initially thought it may have been Continental or Hanau silver but I am now convinced it is Scottish silver around the turn of the 19th-20th century. What do you think?
Thanks you for your help and the very informative newsletter.
Mike Lawson

The date letter is "h" corresponding to 1889. The mark on the right (next the "h") is an "F" meaning that it's an imported item.
The style of the piece is typical of Hanau silver. The mark of the German maker could be overstamped or somewhere else in the piece.
Giorgio Busetto


Maurice Meslans writes:
... The larger spoon I purchased decades ago. There are two marks, one a crowned LS and a second mark a crowned trefle or three leaf clover above LS. The spoon was also marked by American silversmiths Gorham & Thurber 1850-52. To me it was obvious that about 1850 someone took the spoon into a Rhode Island shop, where they buffed it and engraved a new monogram. I have never traced the maker's marks LS and while it had been in America for over 150 years it was either 18th c. French or French colonial. The three marks could be a subscription silversmith.
Recently I acquired a second spoon apparently an early French spoon although a completely different style. This time no one had buffed it, and it has patina commensurate with an 18th century spoon. However this time there are two strikes of the trefle mark and two more partial strike of the same mark. I think that this probably rules out a silversmith in France. In fact four marks suggest an Anglo connection. Unfortunately I have found no Canadian or American silversmiths of French origin with the right initials. I have not heard if anyone has found the same marks in France.
I was hoping one of your readers might help.
Maurice Meslans


Sergey Terpogosov writes:
... I'm trying to identify the maker of these silverplate spoons. Any suggestion would be highly appreciated..
Sergey Terpogosov

The maker is Barnett Henry Abrahams, London, see my website at http://www.silvercollection.it/electroplatesilver.html
Giorgio Busetto


Heather Kaliden writes:
... I inherited this silver butter dish. I know nothing about it.
Would you be able to tell me when this is from and the maker?
I would appreciate any insight?
Heather Kaliden

The maker is Corbell & Company, see my website at http://www.silvercollection.it/AMERICANSILVERPLATEMARKSCDE.html
Giorgio Busetto


Elizabeth DuPreez writes:
...Please find attached photos of my pride and joy tea set from Gorham silver.
I have been searching for any information regarding the pattern (I believe it is custom possibly), or history.
I purchased it a while back as it is a centennial piece (based on the date lettering), and given the incredible amount of high end work Gorham did during the Paris exposition I would like to see if there is any special provenance for this set. Any info would be most appreciated!
Kind regards,
Elizabeth DuPreez


Claire Gillingham writes:
... could you give me in formation on this please?
We got told it was an old boxing belt, but we aren't sure what can you tell by these hallmarks
Claire Gillingham

The hallmark is London 1845. The maker is, possibly, John Harris of C.S. Harris & Sons Ltd.
Giorgio Busetto


Fritz Guercke writes:
... a friend of mine showed me a very nice bowl and asked me to give him some information about this item. Unfortunately are the stamps not very informative.
The head of an animal on the left side seems to be a leopard's head, which was usual on English objects. But in this case I miss the other silver stamps.
The diameter of the bowl is ca. 20 cm.
Can you help me? Where is this bowl manufactured? Is it perhaps silver plated?
Thank You very much.
Fritz Guercke


Francesca Rapposelli writes:
... I need your help to identify the maker of this silver watch (looks Hanau manufacture).
Any suggestion would be highly appreciated.
Francesca Rapposelli



Replies to questions

Krisztián Fekete replies to questions published in July newsletter
Andrew J. Brasch pitcher A piece made in Czechoslovakia. The maker is Frantisek Bibus


Ludo D'Haese silver basket I think it is a 19th century mark of Romania
Krisztián Fekete


"A PAGE per MONTH"

In this column we presents a page obtained from makers' brochures, books, auction catalogs, advertising or whatever other printed paper, related to silver, that may be of interest for ASCAS members.
The images will be published at a "low resolution" level and for private and personal use only.
This column is published under the kind permission of Giorgio Busetto's website

SILVER ADVERTISEMENTS

FACTORIES, PLANTS, SALESROOMS, SHOPS AND WORKSHOPS: OLD IMAGES
www.silvercollection.it home page


This month ASCAS presents an ancient advertisement of

ARNOLD KÜNNE
SILBERWARENFABRIK
ALTENA i. WESTFALEN
Arnold Künne, ancient advertisement

The firm was founded in Altena i. Westfalen (Germany) in 1820 by Arnold Künne (1796-1872).
Arn. Künne Silberwarenfabrik advertised as manufacturer of silver and silverplate (alpaca) flatware and religious and church vessels.
Arnold Künne, silver mark


"A WORD per MONTH"

In this column we present an abstract from a page of the "What is? Silver Dictionary"
courtesy of

 
www.silvercollection.it home page leave your LIKE on facebook

WINE COOLER
WINE CISTERN

Wine cooler and wine cistern are receptacles for holding iced water and lumps of ice to chill one or more bottles of wine.
Early examples of wine cooler were made in the 1790s in the shape of straight-sided vessels on a flat base standing on the table or on the sideboard.
In the period 1800-1810 some were shaped as a barrel, decorated with encircling hoops.
In the 1820s some were made with a footed base, decorated at the bottom with gadrooning and having two horizontal handles or two drop-ring handles.
After 1820 the form became more elaborate with relief decorations of acanthus leaves, grapes, floral patterns, mythological friezes and applied masks.
Often they had a separate cylindrical metal liner into which to place the wine bottle and a removable collar to cover the iced water.
Until the 1840s these devices were called "ice-pail" or "ice-bucket" but thereafter they were catalogued as "wine cooler".....
MORE...


"A SILVERSMITH per MONTH"

In this column we present marks, information and history of silversmiths and silver manufacturers.
This column is published under the kind permission of Giorgio Busetto's website

www.silvercollection.it home page


ARGENTOR-WERKE
RUST & HETZEL


The origin of the firm dates to 1863 when Carl Adalbert Münchmeyer and Ernst Rust founded C.A. Münchmeyer & Co.
The firm was specialised in silver and gold plating metal objects through galvanic process.
Factories were opened in Berlin (managed by C.A.Münchmeyer), Vienna (managed by Ernst Rust and Adolf Wilhelm Hetzel) and Paris.
Argentor-Werke Rust & Hetzel, founded in 1902 and managed by Georg Ferdinand Rust and Adolf Wilhelm Hetzel, became one of the most important metalware manufacturers of Viennese Art Nouveau movement.
Production included not only silver cutlery, bowls, centerpieces, tea and coffee services, but also home furnishings such as frames, clocks, electric lamps, vases and flower holders.
Of particular interest were the frames manufactured by Argentor to mount the iridescent glass vases made by the famous Johan Loetz glass factory.... MORE...


"A CREST per MONTH"

In this column we present images and descriptions of Crests and Mottoes of British, Irish and Scottish families as engraved on silver items.
This column is published under the kind permission of Giorgio Busetto's website
www.silvercollection.it home page

FAMILY CRESTS: LIST OF NAMES

ILLUSTRATED DIRECTORY OF FAMILY CRESTS

WILLIAMS
family crest: WILLIAMS

The crest of Williams family, Rowland of Langibby Castle, co. Monmouth, Monmouthshire.
The French motto is "En suivant la verité" (By following the truth).
The crest is described as "a talbot, passant".
The crest has been found on a sterling silver wine cooler, hallmarked London 1843, makers Charles Reily & George Storer

silver wine cooler with family crest: WILLIAMS
London 1843 hallmark on silver wine cooler with family crest: WILLIAMS


"A YEAR per MONTH"
FROM SHEFFIELD ASSAY OFFICE REGISTER
- 1796 -

This table is obtained from The Book of Entries of the Names, Places of abode and Marks of the several Silversmiths and Plate Workers residing in Sheffield, or within twenty miles thereof, who are required to send their goods to the Assay Office, lately established in the Town of Sheffield by an Act of Parliament lately passed in the Thirteenth Year of the Reign of King George the Third intituled:
An Act for appointing Wardens and Assaymasters for
Assaying Wrought Plate in the Towns of Sheffield
and Birmingham

YEAR 1796

Sheffield Assay Office: hallmarks register
Sheffield Assay Office: 1796 hallmarks register
Sheffield Assay Office: 1796 hallmarks register


Closing our December 2018 edition of ASCAS Newsletter I hope you have appreciated its content.
Your comments, suggestions and advice will be of great help.

My thanks to Elizabeth DuPreez, Krisztián Fekete, Claire Gillingham, Fritz Guercke, Heather Kaliden, Mike Lawson, David Mckinley, Maurice Meslans, Katherine Palthey, Francesca Rapposelli, Pierre Saric and Sergey Terpogosov 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.

email: silverassociation@yahoo.it       HOME