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AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



March, 19 13 



Mm MLl 



COLLECTORS' DEPARTMENT 



THE EDITOR OF THIS DEPARTMENT WILL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY 

 LETTERS OF ENQUIRY FROM ITS READERS ON ANY SUBJECT CONNECTED 

 WITH OLD FURNITURE, POTTERY AND PORCELAIN, GLASS, MINIATURES. 

 TEXTILES, PRINTS AND, ENGRAVINGS, BOOKS AND BINDINGS, COINS AND 

 MEDALS, AND OTHER SUBJECTS OF INTEREST TO COLLECTORS. LETTERS 

 OF ENQUIRY SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY STAMPS FOR RETURN POSTAGE 



Early American Silver 



By Robert H. Van Court 

 Photographs by Courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 





■""'- 1 IT 



HE skill of Colonial craftsmen reached its for the use of the rising generation, and spoons, forks and 

 most brilliant achievement in the work of ladles of many and divers kinds were among the objects 

 the silversmiths of the period. Workers in made by the men who worked at the silversmith's craft, 

 other branches of applied art have left Even in Puritan New England the social customs were 

 ample and convincing testimony of their convivial. Drinking accompanied the transaction of busi- 

 attainments as designers and workmen, but ness of any kind and was a part of any social function. No 

 the wares of the metal-smiths easily excel in beauty of de- baptism was performed, marriage celebrated or funeral 

 sign and in the perfection of finish. conducted without a liberal consumption of liquor. Toddy 

 The period at which these American craftsmen wrought and punch were in demand — cider was consumed in amaz- 

 the silver now considered so priceless was that during which ing quantities, and high in favor was the delectable "flip" 

 severity and purity of design were highly valued. England made of rum, beer, spices and eggs, sweetened with mo- 

 set the fashion for the colonists, and the eras of Queen Anne lasses and then burned by the plunge of a red-hot instru- 

 and the Georges had produced great designers whose work ment called a "loggerhead," which was an adjunct of every 

 had established the vogue of simplicity of form and accur- well-ordered Colonial fireplace. The skill of the silversmith 

 acy of proportion, and their leadership found a ready fol- was required for the fashioning of the flagons, tankards, 

 lowing in America, where it accorded well with the classic strainers, braziers and the long list of objects which are in 

 and simple tastes which here prevailed. demand wherever a few congenial spirits gather about the 

 Nothing is more interesting than a study of the social festive board. The silver punch-bowls of the time, such as 

 history of a period, using as a guide the domestic objects the famous example at Harvard, are marvels of faultless 

 of the very people whose customs are being analyzed. The designing and correct workmanship, and bear witness quite 



silver of American Colonial 

 days offers a particularly 

 fascinating study, for plate 

 was the most prized and val- 

 ued of household posses- 

 sions, and was handed down 

 from one generation to an- 

 other, although its value did 

 not prevent its forming a 

 very intimate part of daily 

 life. 



Tea drinking became the 

 fashion during the reign of 

 Queen Anne, and the new 

 custom caused the introduc- 

 tion of the use of tea cad- 

 dies, strainers, hot water 

 urns and the host of small 

 objects used upon the tea 

 table, all of which offered an 

 opportunity for testing the 

 skill of the designers and 

 silversmiths of the times. 

 The little porringers with 

 their flat handles were made 



The work of the early American silversmiths is eagerly sought for 

 by museums and private collectors, and authentic examples are becom- 

 ing exceedingly rare. The tray, porringer, small creamer and sugar- 

 tongs were made by Paul Revere. The coffee-pot to the left was 

 made by Benjamin Burt 



as forcibly to the skill with 

 which they were made as to 

 the joviality of the occasions 

 which they doubtless adorned. 

 As might be expected, much 

 of the most beautiful of the 

 early American plate was 

 made for the service of re- 

 ligion, and much which was 

 not made for church use be- 

 came the property of the 

 church by gift or bequest. 



It seems a little startling 

 to think of silver flagons and 

 goblets made for household 

 use appearing upon the com- 

 munion table, but another 

 aspect shows it to be rever- 

 ent and fitting that the treas- 

 ures which were the most 

 valued of domestic posses- 

 sions should be given for the 

 service of the church. The 

 communion services made 

 for use in many of the New 



