American Silversmiths and Their Marks: The Definitive (1948) Edition
287
American Silversmiths and Their Marks: The Definitive (1948) Edition
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Overview
Forsaking the flourishes and ornamentation favored by their European contemporaries, early American gold- and silver smiths pioneered a new American aesthetic sensibility in creating for their well-heeled clients finely worked, luxurious metalware for the table, which was marked by a simplicity and forthrightness of design. These accomplished artisans have left us not only a stunning legacy of priceless silverware but also an opportunity to examine the culture, lifestyle, and values — in short, the developing ethos — of young America. For social and cultural historians as well as Americana buffs, the study of silversmithing in this book will provide a unique perspective on a spirited new nation.
For serious connoisseurs of American gold and silver ware, silver dealer Stephen G. C. Ensko's American Silversmiths and Their Marks is a rich and definitive directory. Ensko has compiled an exhaustive list of over 3,000 gold- and silversmiths working between the years 1650 and 1850. Biographical details and location of their shops are given wherever possible. Maps of the great metropolitan centers of smithing (Boston, New York, and Philadelphia) with shop locations noted are appended.
Over 200 of the finest examples of the work of early American artisans are displayed in sharp, clear black-and-white photographs. Items include tankards, cups, candlesticks, sugar boxes, inkstands, tea sets, porringers, plus a pitcher, sauce dish, teapot, and other works by famous New England patriot Paul Revere.
The usefulness of this work is perhaps most apparent in the practical listing of identifying marks associated with gold- and silversmiths. With over 3,000 entries, this feature alone renders American Silversmiths and Their Marks indispensable to enthusiasts interested in tracking down and identifying antique pieces.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780486147048 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Dover Publications |
| Publication date: | 08/02/2012 |
| Series: | Dover Jewelry and Metalwork |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 287 |
| File size: | 42 MB |
| Note: | This product may take a few minutes to download. |
Read an Excerpt
AMERICAN SILVERSMITHS and THEIR MARKS
The Definitive (1948) Edition
By Stepehen G.C. Ensko
Dover Publications, Inc.
Copyright © 2014 Dover Publications, Inc.All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-486-14704-8
CHAPTER 1
NAMES OF EARLY AMERICAN SILVERSMITHS 1650-1850
THIS LIST of early American silversmiths has been compiled for the convenience of those desiring to know more about the craftsmen who fashioned early American silver. To facilitate reference the names have been listed in alphabetical order. All sources of available information have been used with a considerable amount of critical correction. In keeping with the original intention of this book only silversmiths and allied craftsmen who can be identified with known examples of their workmanship have been included in this list. With the names of silversmiths are earliest working dates; hyphenated double dates indicate births and deaths; and locations of business mentioned are followed by records of marriages, freemanships, apprenticeships, and other pertinent information.
* * *
To appreciate and understand the pieces of early American silver illustrated in this chapter it is necessary to know the lines and forms, and the styles of decoration of the various periods represented. This is not difficult if we keep in mind the influence of the early Chinese designs and the evolution into the Grecian shapes. In some instances we find the English and Continental prototypes of slightly later date, especially in the beginning of the eighteenth century, but generally speaking the designs and workmanship are more or less contemporary.
Presenting a simple picture of this development in the eighteenth century we note a globular bowl of 1725 changing into the elongated pear-shape of about 1750, and to the Grecian vase form of 1775. This considerable change in a span of fifty years is also to be found in the square tray conforming to the later fashionable curved outlines; the straight-sided, flat-top tankard acquiring a bulbous body and stepped-domed cover; all reflecting the general tendency to greater height and tapering line. For further study and educative interest the author refers the student to the bibliography included in this book.
A
JOHN W. ABBOTT
1790-1850
Portsmouth, N. H., 1839, at Market Square.
FRANCIS M. ACKLEY
1797
New York at 95 Warren Street; Bowery Lane; Henry Street; until 1800.
JOHN ADAM, JR.
1780-1843
Alexandria, Va., advertised after 1800. Was also noted Musician and Artist.
PYGAN ADAMS
1712-1776
New London, Conn., 1735. Son of Rev. Eliphalet Adams. Married Ann Richards, May 5, 1744. Capt. Adams held prominent public offices. General Assembly, 1753-1765. Died in New London.
WILLIAM L. ADAMS
1831
New York at 620 Greenwich Street; 10 Elm Street in 1835. Noted politician. President of the Board of Alderman, 1842-3. In Troy, 1844-1850.
EDWIN ADRIANCE
1809-1852
St. Louis, Ill., 1835. Born in Hopewell, N. Y. Son of Abraham Adriance and his Wife Anna Storm. Married Elizabeth O'Connor. Firm of Mead, Adriance & Co.; Mead & Adriance 1831.
GEORGE AIKEN
1765-1832
Baltimore, Md., in Calvert Street in 1787; 118 Baltimore Street in 1815. Married Sarah Lerct McConnell 1803.
JOHN AITKEN
1785
Philadelphia, Pa., at 607 Second Street, 48 Chestnut Street 1791. No record after 1814. Advertised as, "Gold and Silversmith, Clockmaker, Musical Instrument Manufacturer and Copper-Plate Engraver".
JOHN B. AKIN
1820-1860
Danville, Ky., 1850.
CHARLES ALDIS
1814
New York at 399 Broadway; 23 Elm Street in 1815.
ISAAC ALEXANDER
1850
New York at 422 Grand Street.
SAMUEL ALEXANDER
1797
Philadelphia at South Second Street until 1808. Firm of Wiltberger & Alexander.
ALEXANDER & RIKER
1797
New York, at 350 Pearl Street until 1798.
ALLCOCK & ALLEN
1820
New York.
CHARLES ALLEN
1760
Boston, Mass.
JOHN ALLEN
1671-1760
Boston, Mass., 1695. Son of Rev. James Allen. Married Elizabeth Edwards. Partner of John Edwards.
ALLEN & EDWARDS
1700
Boston, Mass. John Allen and John Edwards in Partnership.
JERONIMUS ALSTYNE
1787
New York. At Maiden Lane until 1797. Married Eyda Beekman.
WILLIAM ANDERSON
1746
New York. Apprenticed 1717 to noted Simeon Soumaine, Freeman of July 1, 1746.
ANDRAS & RICHARDS
1797
New York at 166 Broadway. Dissolved in 1799.
WILLIAM ANDRAS
1795
New York at 40 William Street. Partner of Samuel Richards.
ANDRAS & CO.
1800
New York.
JOHN ANDREW
1747-1791
Salem, Mass., at "Sign of Golden Cup", 1769. Cambridge, at "Sign of the Anchor", 1775. In Windham, Me., 1789. Married Elizabeth Watson.
HENRY ANDREWS
1800
Philadelphia at 65 South Second Street. In Boston 1830.
JOSEPH ANDREWS
1800
Norfolk, Va.
N. ANDRUS & CO.
1834
New York.
ISAAC ANTHONY
1690-1773
Newport, R. I., 1715. Born, April 10, 1690, son of Abraham and Alice Wodell Anthony. Advertised as a Goldsmith in the Boston Gazette, March 21, 1737. Died in Newport, 1773.
JOSEPH ANTHONY, JR.
1762-1814
Philadelphia, Pa., 1783. Born in Newport, R. I., January 15, 1762, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Sheffield Anthony. Married Henrietta Hillegas, December 29, 1785. Advertised at Market Street, 1783-1796, where he admitted his sons in the business in 1810.
JOSEPH ANTHONY & SONS
1810
Philadelphia, at 94 High Street until 1814, with sons, Michael and Thomas.
GEORGE B. APPLETON
1850
Salem, Mass.
ALLEN ARMSTRONG
1806
Philadelphia at 4 North Second Street, 225 Arch Street, 1817.
THOMAS ARNOLD
1739-1828
Newport, R. I., 1760. Prominent citizen. Continued in trade until 1796.
EBENEZER J. AUSTIN
1733-1818
Charlestown, Mass., after 1760 where he was born. Hartford, Conn., after 1764. New York, 1788, listed as Revolutionary Pensioner in 1818.
JOSIAH AUSTIN
1718-1780
Charlestown, Mass., 1745. Landowner in 1765. Married Mary Phillips in 1743. Worked with Samuel Minott in 1768.
NATHANIEL AUSTIN
1734-1818
Boston, Mass, 1760. Shop in Fourth Ward. Born in Charlestown, Mass. Married Ann Kent in 1759. Directory, 1796-1816. Died in Boston, October 18, 1818.
AUSTIN & BOYER
1770
Boston, Mass. Josiah Austin and Daniel Boyer.
JOHN AVERY
1732-1794
Preston, Conn. Selftaught silversmith, opened shop in 1760. Appointed Justice of Peace. His four sons, John, Robert, Samuel and William, were silversmiths.
SAMUEL AVERY
1760-1836
Preston, Conn., 1786, continuing father's business with brothers.
SAMUEL AYRES
1805
Lexington, Ky. Advertised, Kentucky Gazette, 1790, "In Shop on Main Street, nearly opposite Mr. Collins Tavern". Offers shop for sale in 1819. Died,
September, 1824.
B
C. BABBITT
1815
Taunton, Mass.
SAMUEL BABCOCK
1788-1857
Middletown, Conn., 1812 North of Episcopal Church. Born in Saybrook where he was Collector of Customs.
A. BACHMAN
1848
New York.
DELUCINE BACKUS
1792
New York at 12 Crown Street. Firm of Cady & Backus.
B. M. BAILEY
1824-1913
Ludlow, Vt., 1848. Apprenticed to Robert H. Bailey in Woodstock. Later in Rutland. Died in Brooklyn, N. Y.
E. E. BAILEY
1825
Portland, Me. Firm of E. E. & S. C. Bailey.
E. E. & S. C. BAILEY
1830
Portland, Me.
E. L. BAILEY & CO.
1835
Claremont, N. H.
HENRY BAILEY
1800
Boston, Mass., directory 1803.
LORING BAILEY
1780-1814
Hingham, Mass., 1801. Born in Hull. Married, 1807. Caleb Gill, Levitt Gill and Samuel Norton served apprenticeships. Nicknamed "Thankful Loring" by townspeople.
ROSWELL H. BAILEY
1825
Woodstock, Vt. Apprenticed to his brother-in-law and cousin B. M. Bailey.
WILLIAM BAILEY
1818
Utica, N. Y.
BAILEY & CO.
1848
Philadelphia, Pa.
BAILEY & KITCHEN
1833
Philadelphia until 1846.
ELEAZER BAKER
1764-1849
Ashford, Conn. 1785, advertised as clock and watchmaker and gold and silversmith.
GEORGE BAKER
1825
Providence, R. I., and Salem, Mass.
STEPHEN BAKER
1830
New York.
EBENEZER BALCH
1723-1808
Hartford, Conn., 1750. Born in Boston. In Wethersfield in 1756.
EBENEZER BALDWIN
1810
Hartford, Conn., until 1819.
H. E. BALDWIN & CO.
1825
New Orleans, La.
JABEZ C. BALDWIN
1777-1819
Boston, Mass., 1800. Partner of John B. Jones in 1813.
JEDEDIAH BALDWIN
1793
Hanover, N. H. Advertised, Spooners Journal, October 7, 1793: "Clocks and watches made and repaired together with plate and jewelry in their various branches. The subscriber most respectfully informs the inhabitants of the town of Hanover, and the towns adjacent and the public at large, that having served a regular apprenticeship at the above branches of the business, he now proposes carrying them on in the town of Hanover, in the vicinity of Dartmouth College, a few rods south of the printing office. He hopes for the patronage and employment of those who have occasion for his labor in any of the above branches, but expects no further than he may be found by his fidelity, punctuality and moderate charges to merit them. N.B. The highest price given for old Gold, Silver, Brass, Copper and Pewter. A load of coal is wanted." Later in Portsmouth, Northampton, Mass., Rochester, N. Y. Died, 1839.
(Continues...)
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Table of Contents
Contents
DOVER BOOKS ON ANTIQUES AND COLLECTING,Title Page,
Copyright Page,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
Dedication,
INTRODUCTION,
Chapter I - NAMES OF EARLY AMERICAN SILVERSMITHS 1650-1850,
Chapter II - MARKS OF EARLY AMERICAN SILVERSMITHS 1650-1850,
Chapter III - LOCATIONS OF SILVERSMITHS' SHOPS,
BIBLIOGRAPHY,