Evening star., 1948-08-13
Bv Eunice WeIch Foster

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Ever since Biblical days, when
Joseph had servants place his own
silver cup in Benjaminis sack, and
centuries later DemetriuS, the sill
versmith. raised an uproar against
Paul and his teachings, men have
wrought carefully, cunningly with
silver. Ancient Greeks linked silver
with Luna, the moon goddess, its
symbol being the crescent moon.
Mans frantic search for this metal
was called moon madness" accord
ing to ancient myths.
Silver was the first metal to be
widely used as currency, and its
slow changing of barter and trading
into buying and selling parallels
mans own dramatic conquest OF
nature.
The last quarter of the 17th CEN
tury in England was called the
Silver Age, for after silver flowed in
unheard-of quantities from the
mines of the Western Hemisphere
principally Mexico, it was available
not only for currency, but articles
of personal and ceremonial adorn-
ment as well as table use. Silver
craftsmen, their first guild organ
lied in 1180, came into their own
during this era making many things
of use and beauty from this gleam-
ing, shining metal Cups, tankards,
platters, bowls. trays, spoons and
knives were all made by hand as
well as were tea pots and caddles,
becoming highly priced possessions.
The tea caddy had its name from
the MALAY "kati," the small ebony
box holding one and third pounds
of tea, when shipped from Malaysia.
Pitchers, cups and patens for
ecclesiastical services were all made
of silver, as well as candlesticks.
These handmade pieces, carefully
fashioned and constantly buffed
until they have as much sheen as
modern silver are cherished heir
looms today. Communion services
were sent to some of the colonies by
ROYALTY: one still in use in a church
in Roanoke, Va, was presented by
Queen Anne.
Buttons and buckles, mirrors and
tiny boxes just large enough to hold
seasoning for ones food, and
spherical pomanders were greatly In
demand. The last named swung
from the girdle, or a chain worn
around the neck, and contained a
mixture of aromatic. sweet-smelllng
spices which were delicately shifted
when the foul odors of the city as
sailed the nostrils.
Most of the colonists, especially
in New England, were too busy
building homes, settling their fam
lies in them, and establishing
themselves in a business or profess
sion from which they could earn a
living, to have time or money for
aught but necessities. Most Colonial
tables were graced with wooden
trenchers, and few pieces OF
pewter, but early in the 18th CEN
tury artisans began coming to the
new world, among them a number
of silversmiths. To please their
wives, and beautify their homes
more and more colonists began hav-
ing silver pieces made, severely
simple but beautiful in design, made
from silver dollars, principally the
famous pieces of eight which
were melted down for this purpose.
Spoons, cups, teapots and silver
rattles for babies were among the
first articles made. The Moultons
of NeWburyport, the Hulls and Rich
ardsons of Boston, and Apollos Re-
voire, a French Huguenot refugee,
we're among the first to do this work.
Six generations of Moultons carried
on this trade, having made tea
spoons and tableware for four gen.
erations before the Revolution. Will
liam Towle, an apprentice to the
last Moulton, has continued the
business up to this day. John Hull
made the first coins for the Colonies
in the mint which he operated. Paul
Revere learned his trade from his
father, Apollos, who anglicized his
name after marrying Boston lady.
OF these early silversmiths, Paul
Revere was immortaliZed by Long
fellows poem, The Midnight Ride
of Paul Revere" and so his name
is the most familiar of all. At the
time of his famed ride he had long
been a fiery patriot and this was
not the first time he had ridden in
the cause of freedom. A member
of the Sons of Liberty of Boston, he
made many trips to Philadelphia
carrying secret messages to the same
organization there. Like most sill
versmiths, he was an engraver of
book plates, prints and paper money,
also establishing bell foundry. In
spite of all these interests he was
also q dentist, advertising in Bos-
ton newspaper of August 20, ITO.
as follows: Artificial false teeth
fxed as well as by dentist surgeon,
which are not only an ornament
but Of real use in speaking and eat
ing" It's a mooted point as to