The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-16
EARLY AMERICAN SILVER.
PIECES THE COLLECTORS SEEK
AND THEIR MAKERS.
Articles Unfamiliar Nowadau-Ffne Table
and Church silver MARKS OF tho
American MRkers-Paul Revere q
Great silversmith-some OF HIS Work.


md Church silver MARKS OF tho
American Makers-Pau Revere Q
Great silversmith-Some OF HIS work.
In America the frst silversmith who set
up In business was John Hull, who wen TO
Boston from England In 1885. He was one
Of the founders Of the First Church n his
work IL to be seen on much ecclesiastical
silver which belonged to the earliest
churches Of Boston and It's vicinity. By
1852 he was associated with Richard Sander
son, and they worked together till 1883.
AT Newburyport from 1883 TO 1887 Samuel
Vernon worked at his trade as q silversmith,
n although he hoes not seam to have made
so much church silver as the first named firm
his tankards were solid and fine, but not OF
such size as those made by the Dutch silver
smiths settled In New York, at Albany
and about Schenectady.
Although silverware was made here at an
early date. 1t was also brought hero in
articles which have an unfamiliar ring to
N ears. Capt. Thomas Eaton, who dice
NEW York in 1895. leaves by will to Abigail,
the wifi of q friend, my silver boat, a
silver meat fork and a silver spoon"
Mary Jansen, who died in 1879, left to her
different daughters a silver bodkin. a silver
chain with keys n a silver chain with
case and q cushion. John Haines Of New
York had when he died in 1891 sixteen
silver spoons valued at GO los, a tsnksrd
valued at e10 and q sword adorned with
a silver handle.
John Oort, whose wife, Sarah, became
later the wife Of the notorious Capt. Kidd.
died possessed OF lO4 ounces OF silver which
were valued at e1Oi. This valuation must
have been based on the type Of pieces left,
for the value Of silver by the ounce up to 100
was a little more than six shillings an ounce.
Christiana Cappoens, whose will was filed
in 1887, left much gear, and mentions among
the silver bequeathed to her daughters
beakers, cups, p~epperbox, cups with
covers, salt cellars, also "a silver beaker
marked with the full name OF Christiana
Roselaers and her coat Of arms" a silver
mustard pot, spoons, tumblers and a
church book with silver clasps and a chain.
In fact, in these old inventories there are
many mentions of the Bible. 1t seemed
to come next to the "feder bed in the esti-
nation Of the makers of these wills, and very
often the silver chain and tips are also
specified in the lists.
Silver wrought East India spice boxes
are mentioned in some OF the wills which
were made before 1900, and Margaret Van
Varick OF Flatbush had seventeen pieces
Of silver playthings and toys. They were
those enchanting little Dutch silver toys,
windmills, boxes, w~heelbarrows and other
things which collectors seek industriously
to-day and think antique because the skill
full Dutch workman who Is making them
for the trade initiates the old ones with all
their Irregularities.
A few OF the famous Dutch silversmiths
who were settled in New York with the
dates Of their activity are as follows; Cornelis
Kiersteade, Everadus Bogardus, Benjamin
Wyncoope were all at work prior to 100;
Jacob VanderspieRel and Benjamin Kip
before no; Cornelis Cornelison, Contract
Ten Eyok, Peter Vegereau, John Brevoort,
Adrian Bancker, Richard Van Dyck, all
before 1850. Many Of them have left ex-
amples of their work, which can be found
among the old New York families.
On this old silver the hand work Is very
apparent, particularly on hollow pieces
like beakers, ~porringers, cups and the like.
The mark of the mallet with which il was
beaten into shape can generally be detected
on the under side, and is really next in
value to the hall mark, which is the letter
used to denote the year Of its make.
This usage Of marking old silver with a
letter to denote the year IL was made, and
a device to show in which country, besides
the private mark or monogram, is one OF
the causes which have contributed to keep
ing the value Of silver antiques high. II
some such process had obtained among the
furniture makers what a boon 1t would have
proved In collactorsl
With American silver the hall mark IL
wanting. but its place is often supplied
by the initials OF the maker, and then its
time OF manufacture can be told within a
few years.
The silver made here by the earliest
makers was generally good in shape but
simple in decoration. AS wealth and pros-
perity increased il became more ornate
and was decorated with repouss6 work ,
which in its turn was succeeded by en-
craving.
The small pieces were no longer the best
American makers could do, and punch
bowls OF generous proportions, ewers,
basins for LAYING the hands or for baptisma!
use were often found in the homes OF the rich
and in wealthy churches.
Perhaps the church which owns the
finest collection OF old silver in the United
States Is Kings Chapel in Boston. Its
silver has been greatly added to lately by
members who have bought pieces from
other churches unable to keep them. Within
the last few years it has secured pieces
made for the New North Church by one
OF Boston's most famous makers, John
Burt, which date from 1875 to la. Even
more interesting are other pieces which are
dated lila, l7l0 and 1717.
Harvard College owns a superb two
handled cup by this same John Burt. The
First Church, Dorchester, and the First
Church, Boston, both own fine old pieces
which were made In 1872 and 1850, the latter
the work of J jeremiah Drummer OF Boston.
For the benefit OF collectors or owners
the following names n dates OF early
makes are given: Boston, John Dixwell,
1881 and 1726; j. Trott, 1850; j.. Edwards,
179O; T. Emery, 1910; W. Holmes, I752; B.
Burt, 100; j. Loring, I7S5; Daniel Boyer,
1890; r. Farnum, 1900; Cleveland, grand
father OF Grover Cleveland, Norwich and
Salem, 1890; Pierpont, 1900; J. McFarlane,
1909 Potwines, l775;B B. Burt, 1928, 1903.
In New York were, besides the Dutch,
makers already named. Richard Overin,
.--. n1A 40