New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-26
OLD SILVER.
how TO RECOGNIZE III.

VII nv J. H. Buck PIP. eos. New-York The Cor
ham Manufacturing Company, 1855
The Illustrated handbook which Mr.. Buck has care
fully prepared, contains much information of which
,anv OF us stand in need Interest in old silver has
been noted as one Of the symptoms of emergence from
PbilistinIsm but, like the common enthusiasm over
olas satsuma this interest is apt TO be wofuy
Intelligent A few glib references TO hall-marks'
are sufficient TO establish social reputation as
poupoisseur Some knowledge of apostle spoons must
be part of social stock in trade, but ii would be
nnkind to insist upon ability TO distinguish between
an apostle spoon of the seventeenth century and one
of the present time. II IS true that the modern re-
productions of the best silversmths are superior in
some Qualities TO much of the older work. although
lovers of the old find 1t hard to make any concessoD
but IL is unsatisfactory, to the least, 10 accept
The assurance Of a salesman a guarantee OF age
There is need of accurate information and much VIII
be learned from the book which Mr. Buck has prepared
with the aid of Crippss '.old English Pa;e' and Ola
French Platcs and other publications, so far as foreign
work is concerned. We are tod that English plate
has had makers mark since 1863, and a standard
mark since 1900, the earliest date at which Is
found written authority for the leopard's hesd as
the hall mark of the Goldsmiths Company, although
It is probable that It was in use at stu carrier
periods From the latter date the reader Is taken
through the various cycles Of the silverSmiths
are carefully explained with the addition OF chap
ter upon Scottish and Continental plate.
There was no systematic marking In America our-
hg Colonial times The first goldsmiths setueu a'
Boston and some Of their still 10 be 1ound'
made as early as 1850. in 1867, the silversmiths
of Philadelphia must have been dissatisfied as heir
predecessors of the fifteenth century in Europe at
the abuses and frauds in the trade as they peuuoheu
The Governor for the establishment Of an assay
state protection is afforded TO purchasers VI
plate. Looking the list Of early American soiu
and silver smiths we find names OF espec'ai III
terest Nathaniel Hud, best known as an ehsI"'o''
John Dixwel the of one of the judges OF Sharos
T. and Paul Revere, in Boston; and in the Ne"io ORR
list we meet with the familiar names, De FeysV'
Goelet Morris and Roosevelt But We must pass o'eF
The historical chapters volume and the elaborate
descriptions of old plato I'm the possession OF coess'
churches and private families All this is OF l'oIo'
and value, and the descriptions are greatly ANU U!
numerous Illustrations But TO many who would base
a claim TO amateurshlp upon little exact khO"icueo,
the ohapters explaining the historical sequence Oh
marks and the discussion of frauds VIII DO o. tho
greatest value. Many seeker after apostle spoohs
or other specimens of antique ware has been the VlcL
of limitations and transformations which might h"No
besn detected bv following Mr. Bucks counsel practis'
tng caution, and seeking good advice III "ouiu oo
unjust TO leave this subject "ulor'
come recognition of the artistic quality and SIKH IN
nanipulaton which are represented by the best WORK
NJ modern American siversmiths. In comparison
with academic art applied art is apt to receive 100
little recognition. 1t is a field which many artists
who would scorn TO express themselves save IN OILS
or marble might cultivate with advantage 10 then.
selves and TO the public. In the best periods OF
italian art our arbitrary distinction between acaaelc
md applied art hardly existed, and it is not easy
10 see why any artist Of time should consider the
art of design in the precious metals TO be beneath
his dignity Fortunately applied art in America has
made most encouraging progress within the last
twenty years. and the work done by houses Ike the
Corbam COMPANY and TGany's as well the en-
broideres of the Associated Artists and some OF our
stained glass work, represent encouraging phases of
American art