Evening star., 1945-07-29
By Leila MechHn


The exhibition of early Amer.
lean silver, bequeathed to the
Smithsonian Institution by the late
Arthur Michael of Newton Center
Mass, and now on view in the Ma
tional Museum, Constitution ave-
nue. and Tenth street, is delightful
both in content and arrangement
The donor was well-knowr
scientist, who for years was pro-
fessor of organic chemistry at Har-
ward University Collecting was
his hobby-an expensive one but
very rewarding. To see the collec-
tion he assembled over a span OF
year is to know intuitively the in
terest and pleasure he found not
only in acquisition but pursuit.
Approximately l46 pieces are in
cluded in the present showing
These represent the work of nc
less than 121 American silver
smiths who lived and produced be-
tween 1878 and 1850. The majority
of these skilled craftsmen lived in
Boston and vicinity, but others had
their workshops and homes ir
Providence and Newport, Hartford
New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore
and Charleston; Special local in
terest attaches to the works OF
three, John Patterson of Annap-
oils, j. Adams of Alexandria and
Charles A. Burnett of old George
town, all of whom attained to high
standing before the Federal City on
the banks of the Potomac was
planned. Each is we'll represented
Teacher Of the RevereS
The earliest silversmith whose
work is included in this collection
Is John Coney-whose dates were
1655-1722, famed not only as tai
ented craftsman but as the en-
graver of the plates from which
the first paper currency made in
the Colonies was printed-that is
sued by the Massachusetts, Bay COL
ony in 1890. Some years later-in
1709-Coney's brother -in-law. Jere-
miah Dummer. from whom he is
supposed to have learned his craft,
engraved similar plates for Con-
necticut.
Coney, who is represented by a
very plain but handsome mug,
hallmarked. as were his works, by
a little conev, was the teacher of
the Reveres. father and son. the lat
ter the Patriot Paul. One of the
most charming in this whole ex-
hibition is a slender coffee pot
with wooden handle, made by Paul
Revere, sr., with consummate taste
and skill. He also has to mis-
credit a charming pair of candle
sticks. But Paul, jr.. is much more
generously represented, there being
no less than seven pieces here ac-
credited to him, among which is a
tall coffee pot, handsomely en-
graved, and two spurs, reminiscent
historically; a knee buckle, a tank
ard and other interesting items.
Revere, sr., was, it will be remem-
bered, French Huguenot, who fled
to this country after the revocat ton
of the edict of Nantes, settled in
Boston and Anglosized his name.
The Revere silver reflects French
taste and high standards of crafts
manship. There is none better.
Fathers and Sons
It was not uncommon in those
days for all of the men of a family
to engage in the same occupation
Outstanding examples of this prac-
tice are the Burts, father John
and three sons; the Hurds, father
Jacob, and two sons benjamin
and Nathaniel, and the Moulton
family-two members. A portrait
of Nathaniel Hurd, painted by Cop
ley, is now owned by the Cleveland
Art Museum, and may be regarded
as an intimation of the social po-
sition a successful silversmith held
in the Colonies. Silversmithing was
in fact. lucrative occupation in
those days, and not a few such
craftsmen left handsome estates, on
death, to their descendants. The
reason why is not far to seek. The
objects made were essentially use
full and at the same time beautiful.
Also they were so well wrought that
they still retain their initial charm
and merit, although some have been
used for two centuries or more by
succeeding generations.
The wide range of articles by in
dividual silversmiths will be noted
in the Michael collection. There
are tankards, porringers, goblets,
mugs. tablespoons and teaspoons
tea and coffee pots, cream pitchers
sugar bowls. Also brandy sauce