Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-10
COLLECTING OLDSILVER
SOME RARE OLD PIECES THAT
MAY STILL BE FOUND.
The Dutch Silversmiths Of Long Ago
SeaFchers Need Not Go to
Europe.
From the New York Tribune.

From the New. York Tribune.
old silver always has a peculiar charm.
aside from that of historical or sentiment
tai association, because the designs are
almost invariably artistic and graceful OF
all old silver that OF English make is the
most highly esteemed. as the date marks
are the most accurate and easily told. As
early Los the silversmiths began to put
on the marks of the hail. or guild of sill
Nersmiths. These consisted of four marks.
Tn first was the lion, the English stamp;
the second, large leopard's head, crowned.
the mark of the guild Of silversmiths: the
third, a letter showing the date, and the
fourth. the individual makers mark
The modern enthusiast in old silver re-
CARDS the date letters as the most import
ant. From 19JS to 1873 there were eight
forms OF alphabet in use, each with TWEEN
ty letters, the earliest alphabet being in
black letter After the middle Of the six
teenth century the date letter was inclosed
In shield. this shield varying somewhat
In shape. a small leopard's head. crowned.
was used as the guild mark after 1716, and
erel2sn mead. As much as $500 $500 or 800
Is asked for hagons on ewers dating no fur
ther back than the reign of George III.
Old Silver in Holland.
Until within five or six years it was easy
TO p ok up in Holland much fine old silver
at reasonable rates There were charming
pieces. known cabinet specimens to be
MAD Tor dollar or two each. and apostle
spoons without srd could be got, the small
after dinner coffee size as low as 10 cents
each- In the Jews market at Antwerp were
oftrtd silver chain by the meter. such as
was used for lacing bodices. hooked over
birds heads, also of silver. In those DAYS
the Dutch girl would sell these heirlooms
Tor d red Jersey vast, and many an art
ne ri b.ac
wardrobe TO get hold Of these delightful sill
Yer gauds. NumberIess little boxes. round
with tiny handles or square or obIone
without handles. and all heavily repousse
coa4d be bought for from dollar up These
may be found even yet in the more remote
towns and hamlets, but the price has gone
up
In Nuremburg in one antiquity shon were
fourd and borne away few Years ago
thrce bag clasps, only ST being paid for the
lot Ihey were such as are now all the
mode with bags OF velvet. silk or leather
hanging from them.
Ihe Dutch silver is also heavily hall
marked. but it is hard to trace the marks
On some pieces owned by woman in this
80 - a charmlng winged figure. with up
nIted arms which the owner has never
been able to classify.
Tankards Made of Coin.
The collector of old silver need not, how
ever. cross the water 10 get hold of some
wonderfully fine pieces. Even as early as
the latter part of 1000 there were Dutch
suversmiths settled in and about Albany
ana schenectady who made dignifed and
eieeant slverware, much of which remains
In the families OF those for whom il was
originally made The finest and most
costly pieces were the tankards many of
them bearing no mark except the &c in
oicatlns that they were made of coin One
such piece. holding over a quart is now in
the possession of a young woman who is
the eighth in direct line from the first own
err 1his tankard Is of the early type with
a nat cover and large round thumb hall Az
time progressed the covers rose in height
rim after rim, until they became conicai
and much less handsome On this old oil
yer the mallet marks are easily seen mar
ficuiarly on the bottom, where less care
was used In finishing.
salt cellar, or saler it was called in
those days, Is another piece to be OCCASION
ally found. There were not many families
In those days. even among the wealthy
Dutch traders and fur merchants. who
could anord to own a solid silver saIer Rnf
they took piece OF apple wood, or maple
and rounded 1t out till 1t was about the
Size and shape of a big saucer: they
smoothed and polished it till it was a thing
OF beauty, bound it with silver. and mount.
ed II on three little silver legs Once in a
while. II memories of old times were strong
they added silver arm to the ring which
bound the top On this arm was hung the
napkin covering the salt when not In use,