Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-20
SILVER EXHIBIT HERE DISPLAYS
RARE CRAFT OF OLD MASTERS
Paul Revere Most Celebrated of Colonial Workers in
Precious Metal Represented-Makers Took Great
Pride in Artistry and Regulations.

Mrs. Nathaniel Thayer of Boston and
other collectors.
jeremiah Drummer is one of the
earliest represented. of the Boston
craftsmen. He had been the appren-
tice of John Hull and his partner
Sanderson. Hull was the wealthy
father. who is said to have given his
daughter as u doWry, her literal
weight in pine tree shillings. jeremiah
Drummer. too. became very wealthy
He engraved and printed the first
paper currency used in Connecticut.
He held many public offices. such as
selectman. justice of the peace, coun-
ty treasurer, judge of court. and was
a member of the council of safety in
1889, as well as an artillery officer.
He instructed his brotherin law. John
Coney. in the art of silver smithing
and the latter became equally note
worthy. Coney was born in Lincoln
shire, frcm whence he emigrated
about 1875.
Learned Trade i'm England.
John Edwards was also born in
England, and doubtless served his ap-
premiership there, for his silver is
of surprising excellence. He became
one Of Boston's richest silversmiths
possessed a fine education and rank
ed high in the social life of the com
munity. His son, Thomas, and his
grandson, John. followed in his foot
steps, and the work OF each of them
may be seen and compared.
Jacob Hurd and his two sons were
another famous family Of silversmiths
in Boston. for the half-century prior
to the Revolution. Nathaniel Hurd
distinguished himself also as the finest
Of all our colonial engravers. He de-
signed and engraved a large number
Of book plates. which are the equal
of the best English work Of the same
period.
William Cowell and his son Will
liam worked in Boston for about 60
years.
The Moulton family cornered the
silver trade in Newburyport, Mass
for 123 years. Samuel Vernon was
prominent in Newport. r. l., which
was a center of wealth at a very
early date. Edward Winslow, his
nephew. inherited his talents and
became one of the finest silversmiths
in Boston. of any period. And in ad
dltlon, he was captain of an ar
tillery company, colonel of regiment.
sheriff for Is years, a constable
tthlngman, overSeer Of the poor, and
judge Of the Court of Common Pleas
for 10 years, when death ended his
varied career.
Dutch Type Of Silver.
The silverware made by these New
England smiths is more delicate and
graceful in design than that of the
smiths of New York. The Dutch type.
thicker silver, more solidly built, and
squarely cut, prevailed long after
New York passed into the hands OF
the English. The earliest of the New
York snversmiths came from the
Netherlands. and their productions
were patterned closely upon the wares
of Holland. Among these foreign
born smiths were Jacob Boelen and
his son Hendrick, who came to New
Amsterdam about 1880. Jacobus Van
der Spiegel was among the earliest
native smiths in New York He was
an assessor and constable. and aided
in the defense of New York against
the French in 1859. Peter Van Dyck
is the greatest of all New York sill.
versmiths. He worked for half a cen
fury before the Revolution. He, too
was an assessor and constable.
In Philadelphia Philip Syng and his
son OF the same name We're excellent
craftsmen. The son was in his prime
during the stirring period of the Revo-
luton. and counted among his per.
sonal friends Benjamin Franklin and
other famous patriots
Each visit to the silver exhibition
at the National Gallery will reveal
additional beauties in the products of
these early silversmiths. and will in.
crease ones admiration for the rare
good taste and artistic spirit of our
forefathers.