The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-05
OUR TABLE WARE
LEADS THE WORLD
There's No Silver Plate In All Europe
Equal 10 Ours.
OTHER POINTS OF SUPERIORITY

The Old World startled BY Our Ad-
vance as shown at Paris in 1880
and at Chicago in ls03--This
Country's Pre-eminence IN the
Manufacture ofthe Best Cutlery.
AS in the making OF cut glass; so
also in the manufacture of many other
articles OF table adornment, notably in
sterling silver and silver-plated wares,
this country, says the New York Sun,
leads the world. II is welcome fact,
moreover that in the production of the
higher grades of table cutlery the home
manufacturers have advanced within
recent years rapidly as regards finish,
quality style, until there is no longer
any reason to prefer table cutlery of
foreign make.
Americas pre-eminence in the art of
metal working has been acquired for
the most part in the last ten years. 1t
was not until the Paris Exposition of
1889 that the work of American silver
smiths attracted general attention
abroad. The exhibit of metal art work
was astonishing to the foreigners, and
the grave critic seemed at a loss how
to treat the matter. 1t was complained
that the American forms of silver were
new and startling and that they sur
prised the eye without gratifying the
taste; that American silverware was
well suited to buyers whose fortunes
were acquired more rapidly than their
taste, and that with a patronage
chiefly composed of millionaires the
American silversmiths were able to
dazzle the eye with huge and costly
works which nobody in Europe, out
side of royalty and a few financial
kings could afford to buy. In Europe
they take such things seriously, and
it was a shock to their traditions to
find that in the development of the art
immortalized by Benvenuto Cellini the
barbarians of the Western Hemis-
phere had leaped so suddenly to the
front. But so it was. Some of the less
spiteful among Partisan art writer's
expressed great admiration of the de-
sings of fruits and flowers taken direct
from nature and wrought in silver; the
superb workmanship shown in the
American exhibit also commanded
their respect.
AT CHICAGO.
In 1898 the display of American sill
verware at the Worlds fair not only
confirmed the impression produced in
Paris four years before, but secured the
almost universal recognition of the fact
that in decorative treatment of gold
and silver America stands first in re-
spect of simplicity, clearness, ele-
and that while the endless copying of
| eXhaustless patterns proceeds in the
European workshops, the American de-
signers are manifesting a fine discern
| ment in the selection of types worth
| preserving, as well as originality and
imagination in the creation of new
| types possessing the essential traits of
beauty. Competent judges drew COM
PARSONS altogether fiattering to Amer
| lean skill and pointed out the fact that
the best European designers were so
| saturated with the principles of the
| older styles that it seemed impossible
| for them to free themselves from heir
influence. In 1898, the same captious
| critics who begrudged approval of the
American display at Paris did not hes
itate to accord unqualified praise and
the admiration of the foreigners took
the form of the purchase of many arti-
cles in the exhibits for shipment to
| Europe. The leading art journal of
| England said:
THE United States easily distances
| in some departments of art metal work
, any other nation. Judging by the pro-
| ductions exhibited, one may well be
| in doubt whether we shall not in the
near future be compelled to regard
| New York as at least our equal if not
| our superior in the production of gold
| and silver work"
In the four years that have elapsed
since the judgment was expressed the
| case has grown stronger, until today
| the fact is conceded generally that the
| leading jeweler of the world is an
American, and a New Yorker, and that
| in the production of sterling silver
wares of ornament and use New York
| leads the world The largest two es-
| adjustments in the two hemispheres,
| devoted to the production of art works
| in metal, have their headquarters in
this city.
PLATED WARES.
Equally eminent in the world Of man.
ufacture are the makers of American
silver plated ware. The progress made
along this line in the United States in
| the last decade has been marked and
| important. 1t is said that nothing
| like this advance has been made in
| Europe, and that in one year America
| turns out a greater variety of new
patterns and designs than is originated
by the English and French in five
| years.
"The use of plated ware" said the
manager of a leading house, sis stead
lily on the increase, and keeps pace
| with the progress made in the style
and quality of the goods produced. II
| is in demand among the weather.
| classes to an extent you would hardly
suspect Families which possess an
| abundance of sterling silver find re-
| lief in the use of good plated ware, for
| they can then lock up their valuable
plate and bring it out only on gala oc-
| casions. Many families among the ar
| istocracy of Europe are doing the same
| thing, and city people use plated ware
| in fitting up their country places. II
| saves a lot of worry about thieves and
| burglars. The life of a plated fork
and spoon of the first quality is from
| fifteen to twenty-five years, according
| to the manner in which 1t is cleaned
and polished. A coarse or gritty pow
| der will wear through the plating in q
| comparatively short time, while the
| finer polishing substances will leave
the surface intact for many years
Generally speaking the cost Of plated