New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-26
ANTIQUE PLATE.
from The LONDON Telearnph.

From The London TeieGrGph
There happens to be on department of rirfu in
which collector, have been lately somewhat reluc-
tant to invest owing to certain embarrassing revca
tons made public through the vigilance of the
officials Of the GOldsmiths Company. That depart
ment is old plate. An enthusi site amateur of this
very fascinating ware had plunged " 30 deeply IN
purchasing antique silver that Tor a time the de-
mand exceeded the supply, and there being de-
iclency OF Charles ii and Qneen Anne rdisselie IL
occurred 10 certain INSCRIPTIONS dealers 70 folst on
the market quantity OF soIcalled oid pate,
pudently forged. Then came the notable
ca.e. of the ingenious sllversmith who
employed a workman to cut genuine hall-marks
out of small pieces such as SAT- cellars and cream
jugs and insert the cuttings in large pieces of plate.
The career of the shOpkeeper who had promoted
this clever system of manipulation audabe for Its
grounds, cut short BY on interview with
Judge and jury. with the result of term of i'm
prlsOnment OF no slight duration; and, for CON
SD rable period following the Ingenious sbOpkeep-
ers conviction, collectors OF ancient plate wera
rather chary of res0rting TO any but long-estab-
lshcd dealers OF reputation wholly above suspicion,
or of purchasing at auctions any plate that did 10.
possess a positively unimDeachable pedigree To
Judge however, from the prices realized at a sale
of old family silver and silycr-gllt plate which
recently took place at MeSsrS. DcbeIham " StOrTs,
the antil ue silver market has recovered its
tone, the unpleasant escapades of the past have
been forgotten, confidence has been restored and
lovers of old plate once more enabled 10 follow,
undismayed, their beloved pursuit OF collecting.
The competition at Messrs. Defendants was it Is
stated mot active, and the sums nj which the
various lots were adjuuged TO the highest bidders
atfOrl matter for much curious reflect on. For eX-
ample a fine old two-handled stiTu p-cup and
cover" weighing little less than go ounces, went
for El24 u.s. 3D. being at tn rate IF 3Ss. IN ounce.
The intrinsic value of this stlTrupcup Is tl6 lOS.,
bu the " fashion is doubtless very fine; or per-
haps the old tankard has history OF its own.
and may have belonged to some parsonage famous
in English history.
An antique 81 Yer waiter of George J., weighing
"a ounce, fetched f29 and silver waiter ot
L H.. ~arfrlrY lgEE |
ounces. was adjudicated a. 60 3s I'd 1t should
be worth every penny OF the money which It
OF our Charles H. silver to the close intercourse Of
Eng and with France during the reign % the Merry
Monarch-an intercourse which enabled the Eng
Iish golds;niths to study the works OF the famous
lem Beruin the "orfevrcr in ordinary to Louis
XIV-so should William Ills silyerware be ex-
tremely precious to English collectors from the fact
him from Ho Land certain HugGe ot
artifcer by the name OF MaFot. This
excellent de- gner, whose works have been described
as an mex aust Bile treasury OF models Tor gold
and siycr," had been originally the architect of
William OF Orange, and his early architectural plI-
suits probably led 10 his d signing those candle
sticks in lhc form of Corinthl IN columns 10 which
the name of Queen Auncs are popularity given.
Marot dIed in 1902, but he was undenaby he tx
emplar of the speudid silyer>mithS OF the Queen
Anne period. ] he sllvcTslnlths 81 that Augdsian
age were likewise ma eriily lded IN their adj
yances toward excellence by tie number OF cele.
grated French engravers W no came over 10 Lhgl'hd
10 execute the plates for the great Nahonal
work illustrative OF the Wars of MARLBOROUGH y;
an artistic ent, rprise project "a, oddly enough,
b, the Frenchmln DubOsc. Nearly all ihese en-
graycTs were likewise designers Tor gold and silver
smiths aud ma y had been, like " III am tlogauh,
engravers OF silver plate and even chaScrs tn,rrOf
No Queen Anne's ware seems 10 have been brOYgnt
forward at tins notable sale in COyent Garden; but
George H. " small antique coffee uTn,' weighing
a little over forty ounces, was sold for E43. An
Ellzaoethan chalice and cover, dated and hall
marked 1873 wei hing less than nine ounces, sold
tor within shilling of Is guineas, lay 40s. an
ounce. very reasonable prlce, as Were indeed.
most of the prices realized. Genuine antique pile
Is an exceedingly scarce AID pc louS comnodny,
and must he pad for III proportion to lis OeAulT
and rarity,