|
|
|
|
| Southern Silver |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
The bottom of this cup bears the mark of James S. Sharrard of Shelbyville, Kentucky.
(Photo: Howard L. Puckett) |
|
|
Many fine examples,
however, bear no marks, or have initials or names of makers about whom
nothing is known. "One of the most exciting events in the life of a
collector," says Tad Hale, an expert on Southern silver who lives in
Georgia, "is identifying a previously unknown silversmith and being
able to collect as many pieces as possible by that maker."
American silversmiths, Northern and Southern, created
pieces in the prevailing European style, which ranged from simple
classicism to ornate rococo. Although generally speaking, American silver
may be distinguished from European silver by its greater simplicity, most
Southern silver is not distinguishable in style or quality of craftsmanship
from silver produced in the North. By 1850, silver pieces had begun to be
made by machines, and the creation of handcrafted pieces dwindled both
above and below the Mason-Dixon Line. For history buffs and antiques lovers, collecting
Southern silver has its unique attractions. "Owning a piece of
Southern silver is like owning a piece of history," says Kathy
Shelton of Shelton Gallery & Fine Silver in Nashville. It provides the
opportunity to learn about not only the period and the maker but also the
past owners, through engravings and monograms on the pieces. But surely
much of the attraction for admirers is rooted in the fact that it's
beautiful to behold and a joy to use.
| JUST THE FACTS |
Makers' marks: To
meet demand, some Southern silversmiths bought Northern silver and sold it
in the South, stamping it with their own name and location. If there are
stamps by a Northern silversmith in addition to that of a Southern
silversmith, you can assume that what you are looking at is not
Southern-made. |
| Coin silver: Southern
silver from the first half of the 1800s is frequently called coin silver.
Southern silver was sometimes made from silver coins, which were composed
of 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. Silver not made from coins but
containing the same composition was also labeled coin silver. The term
sterling is an English standard, indicating that the makeup is 92.5 percent
silver and 7.5 percent alloy, and was not used in the United States until
the late 1850s and not officially adopted as the standard until 1868. |
| Collecting: To begin a new collection, consider
starting with teaspoons, which are the easiest examples to
find. If you want to advance, consider forks, ladles, hollowware, and
perhaps unusual objects, such as trophies. "The most commonly found
forms are teaspoons and serving spoons, then serving pieces," says
Bruce Shelton of Shelton Gallery & Fine Silver in Nashville.
"Hollowware is more difficult to find. And if you can find a julep
cup, you're lucky. A set of julep cups by the same maker would be a
real find." |
| Names to look for: Each
Southern state has its own pantheon of silversmiths and books that detail
their wares. "An extremely rare silversmith who turns up from time to
time is Freeman Woods of New Bern, North Carolina," says Shelton. A
few of the most common silversmiths on the market are James Conning of
Mobile; Hyde & Goodrich of New Orleans; John Mood of Charleston; Asa
Blanchard and E. C. Garner of Lexington, Kentucky; W. H. Calhoun of
Nashville; and Frederick Marquand of Savannah. |
| RELATED READING: ENJOYING YOUR SILVER |
While we treasure our own silver collections, however large or small, we can probably agree that they simply don't get enough use. Here are some of our best tips on decorating and entertaining with silver pieces. |
· A Silver Finish »
· Styling the Holiday Table »
· Table Matters » |
RESOURCES: All silver from Shelton Gallery & Fine Silver,
615/477-6221, www.sheltongallery.com.
|
|
|
| PREVIOUS 1 | 2 |
BACK TO TOP |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
