The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-23
FORGING OLD SILVER PLATE.
MANY FRAUDS OF WHICH THE
COLLECTOR MUST BEWARE.
Growth OF h 70 Demand for Old English
Silver Plate Attempts OF Counter
feiters TO Supply IL n Hail.
marks Fine American siIyerware.

TINS CITY, now tne greatest market Tor that
sort Of wares In the United States, became
important enough to warrant the dealers
importing goods there has been q steady
call for old English silver plate. There
are many notably fine private collections
or old silver in this city and there are few
amateurs who have begun with a spinning
wheel and gradually developed a taste
for Chippendale and old pewter who have
not picked up a few pieces Of old English
silver which they believe to be beyond
criticism because 1t bears a ~well-known
hallmark.
Possibly II may be genuine, but In thees
days Of counterfeit antiques it is open 70
suspicion unless il has either passed the
critical judgment Of an expert or it's history
Is well authenticated The extent to which
the counterfciting of silver plate has been
carried is pointed out by Percy Macquoid
in an authoritative article on the collecting
OF il in the current number Of the Nine
teenh Century and After.
Appreciation OF skilled craftsmanship
In the precious metals existed. according
TO Schliemann's work on Troy as far back
as 1900 B. c., but OF this and Of the subsequent
Greek plate there are very few examples
to-day. Most OF the specimens OF Roman
silver that ave survived are cast.
The Romans Of the Empire were ardent
collectors, but with the advent Of the
Dark Ages when life and property were
both uncertain, many a collection Of precious
metals was melted for It's metal value.
Under the comparatively peaceful influences
Of the Renaissance interest in such collec-
tons revived and 1t has increased ever
aipca ttnfl TO-DAY IL for Atttf1tna tho e,tpnlu
Mr.. Macquoid mentions Birnal. Foun-
taine and Franks as pioneer collectors
! In the first half OF the last century, who
possessed an intuitive insight into what
was beautiful and when the field was
new selected the finest specimens Of silver
work and acquired piece by piece just what
suited their individual tastes. Their con-
temporaries pronounced their tastes eocen-
trio.
1t was not until the English museums
began TO acquire specimens by gift and
purchase that the public took an interest
in old plate and dealers In 1t arose on all
sides. with the disastrous result that the
supply Of genuine specimens could not
meet the demand and counterfeits were
turned out.
THE publication Of books Of reference
says Mr.. Macquoid. ION the subject Of sil-
yer plate has, however. made it more posi-
BILE to form a scheme for Identification
and accurate dealing In English silver than
any other object of art. for a record has
been kept at the Goldsmiths' Hall since
the year l47s OF the annual date letters.
and, later, Of the silversmiths and their
marks.
"One OF the earliest and ~best-known
examples OF the first alphabet is the Lom-
bardic letter ~ consequently l4sl) on the
Anathema Cup belonging TO Pembroke
College, Cambridge. II Is 40 called from
the inscription 'Qui dliendrerit dndthomd
sit,' which the donor, a Bishop Of Win
chester, caused to be engraved on the
base: most effective words they have proved,
as the cup still remains in It's original place.
The English system Of dating plate
by a variety OF alphabets In succession,
makers marks, and official hall marks has
not been followed with the same regularity
In other countries, and there IL no doubt
that the facility OF being able to accurately
date English specimens gives an additional
interest to the collector. The books Of
reference ave made il comparatively easy
TO gain n vast deal Of superficial knowledge,
but have also, unfortunately, instructed
the forger of old silver how to assign the
right marks and correct shape Of shield to
the proper plate OF us period.
OverCaution is Just as dangerous, how
ever, a. credulity, and by way of illustration
there is told the story OF the gold and enamel
cup that was offered n few years ago in
Paris to private collectors and dealers by
two nuns. No purchaser had confidence
for it till NJ Pichon, the great French con-
noisseur. recognized its wonderful intrinsic
beauty and secured Il.
When he died II was bought by a dealer
who sold II to the British Museum for Ct, 900.
Such chances, however, DO not frequently
fall In the way Of the ordinary purchaser.
About the middle Of the last century
many elaborate forgeries Of Gothic and
Renaissance designs were produced in
Germany. In some Of the better French
forgeries part Of the object Is original.
1T is n far easier matter, says this author
ity, "to forge English plate of the succeeding
periods, and the amount Of spurious silver
purpnrting to be Of the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries floating about the
market is astounding. In some instances
the whole piecc is cast together with a hall
mark; this class Of imitation can be detected
bv an inspection 81 the inside. which will
show by the graduated surface its false
method Of manufacture.
Sometimes the piece will be hammered
and afterward stamped with false punches
or a good hallmark inserted that has been
taken from some small worthless bit; this
latter Is a very common practice, as II can
IN some instances only be proved by putting
the whole piece through the FIRE, which
causes tho solder to melt. though II can
frequently be detected by breathing ON the
surface, when the join may show.
Gliding also covers n multitude OF sins,
| among thcm repairs and additions. II il
comparatively easv to add fresh metal on
to a piece Of old silver, but TO do this In a
satisfactory name il must eventually be
annealed, that ia TO say, passed through
the fire more than once. which process
materially affects the surface; this to be
| recovered must DO repolished; IL will then
look 50 fresh and new that gliding is en-
ployed Ia mend matters, therefore a piece
OF antique plate recently gilt should be
approached with dinidcnce.
"When the demand for three-pronged
forks arose these were cast by the score,
hut every genuine spoon or fork should be
of hammered metal capable Of being bent
at the handle, and these cast articles not
being flexible. can be discovered at once.
1hree-pronged forks made out of con-
temporary spoons. with the necessary
amount of metal added to the base, are
most difficult to tell il they have been sub
icctcd to rough usage for some time in
| order TO recover the old appearance OF
| surface: they. however. generally have "a
| singularly false sense Of balance and
prongs In a condition not consistent with
| the worn state Of their hall marks.