New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-01

to be finest its

1878 there were eight forms of alphabet in USE
each with twenty letters the earliest alphabet be-
ing in black letter. After the middle OF the six
tenth century the date letter inclosed in
shield, this shield varying somewhat in shape. A
small leopard's head. crowned used the
guild mark after 171s and from 1884 n fifth mark
was added. the soveregn's head. AS much $780,
$500 or 800 is asked for hagons dating
no further back than the reign Of George III.
Until within five six years It easy pick
up in Holland much fine old silver reasonable
rates There were charming pieces, known as cabi.
net specimens, TO be had for dollar or two each
and apostle spoons without end could be got the
small after dinner coffee size low as 50 cents
each. In the Jews market a Antwerp were Of
fered silver chain by the metre, such as was used
for lacng bodices. hooked birds heads also
Of silver. In those days the Dutch girl would sell
these heirlooms for red jersey waist and many
an art student parted with the superfuities of
her wardrobe to get hold of these delightful silver
gauds Numberless little boxes. round with tiny
handles, square obong without handles and
all heavily repousse, could be bought for from a
dollar up. These may be found yet in the
more remote towns and hamIets but the price has
gone up.
In Nuremberg in antiquity shop were found
and borne away a few years ago three bag clasps,
only Sc being paid for the lot. They were such as
are now all the mode with bags of velvet silk {.
leather hanging from them.
The Dutch silver is also heavily hall marked but
1t Is hard to trace the marks. On some pieces
owned by woman in this State is "a charming
winged figure, with upfted arms. which the owner
has never been able to classify.
The collector of old silver need not however
cross the water to get hold of some wonderfully
nne pieces. Even as early the latter part of
1000 there were Dutch siversmiths settled in and
about Albany and Schenectady who made dignified
and elegant silverware. much of which remains in
the families of those for whom it was originally
made. The finest and most costly pieces were the
tankards. many of them bearing no mark except
the 6 indicating that they were made of coin.
direct line from the hrst nNeT This sue nrd
OF the early type, with fiat cover, and large
round thumb ball: AS time progressed the covers
conical and much less handsome. On this Old sii-
yer the aallet marks are easily seen, particularly
on the bottom. where less care was used in finish
A salt cellar, saler, It was called in those
days. is another piece to be occasionally found
There We're not many families in those days even
chants Who Could AFFORD to OVEN ana solid idr slver
maple an f6ey 99f o en Of apPe or
size and shape of big saucer they smoothed and
with silver, and mounted it on three little silver
legs once In while, if memories of old times
which bound the top. On this arm was hung the
tom going back to those days When p po Was
sometimes dropped into the dishes by an unfriend-
The Dutch silversmths made forks heavy and
Of e rey qisD @cb a Ws mostly
the days when the bowl was made of one material,
to insure the union between bowl and handle. The
earliest examples also had round bowls the oval
shaped bowl being comparatively modern Tea
sets OF silver were not unknown TO the Dutch
housewife, and very handsome they were RELYING
for their beauty chiefly on their shape for the
ornamentation was usually simply beading or
twist on the edge of the articles and their base
The cream pitchers were wide Tipped, with slender
handles. which have come down modern DAYS
rather bent from much use. The sugar bowls
hold easily pound.
Besides the domestic silver made by American
silversmiths there also hundreds of small
pieces, often extremely beautiful in workma nship
such as shoe buckles, knee buckles. cloak clasps.
buttons for mems coats; silver combs, etc.
are still extant, but the smaller pieces thimbles
gold beads and other ornaments, have disappeared
from knowledge
In Colonial times much beautiful and valuable sill
Yer was owned by the wealthy Virginia families.
Some Of them had for State occasions only sill
yer, but gold services Few Of them have survived
the stress Of time and change: but yet occa-
eional pieces come into the market, and the mel
ancholy part OF it all is If goes to sell
he gets only the price Of old silver If one goes
buy II he mas to pay for a '.Vrai antiquer'
There was picked up years ago in York. |