| Author |
 Replies: 13 / Views: 2,439 |
|
|
Valued Member
Australia
208 Posts |
Edited by Misterpostman
12/13/2015 11:37 pm
|
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
624 Posts |
Oh... That's where my spoon went. See the AM engraved on the back? That stands for Adam Murphy. You can send it back to me if you like?
I assume that was the year it was made or owned 1820. The stamp should be able to tell you the type of silver or who made it depending on what year it was made. Its hard to see the stamps from the pictures. What letters are there? Did you try googling those? It could be the silversmith or factory it was made in.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
624 Posts |
Oh, you wrote what was stamped. Sorry. Will look into it.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
624 Posts |
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I Googled
"EGM silver swedish" and "EGM silver denmark".
Should aim you in the right direction for a full identification. You will need to go through most of the references.
Have fun doing the research!
I note that the '1' in '1820' is of a European style, probably punch hammered there by the original seller, to the buyer's requirement. I do not think that it was put there by the maker, so probably sold by the original seller in either Sweden or Denmark.
Edited by sel_69l
12/14/2015 02:50 am
|
|
Valued Member
 Australia
208 Posts |
Thank you!
Mayflower and Sel, very helpful answers, and I will do a bit more research when I have some time. I really am a postman, and the Christmas rush is keeping my very busy!
Yes, I had looked at the British GB Marks, and considered the George Bower mark the closest match, but there is nothing else on the spoon to make me think it was British, such as a city mark, lion, royal image, etc.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7390 Posts |
Old silver is always fun and frustrating to research. The pin-punch engraving was most likely applied after manufacture by someone who bought it and gave it as a wedding gift or birth gift or something like that. A very common practice by early 19th century gentry. Oh, and you're last post reminded me of this classic Rockwell image   |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3343 Posts |
This looks like an American spoon, ca 1800-1840. If it were English it would be hallmarked. My only guess is NYC maker is Gerardus Boyce, who used a similar GB mark. The second mark might be a jeweler, but I can't find anyone who that might be other than Elisha G Macomber. He was contemporary, but was in Fall River Massachusetts, so not too likely. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb...htnames1.htmA lot of these silversmiths are undocumented. The earlier colonial pieces can be quite valuable but this appears to be later. I'd guess $50-100 for this one. Here are some Boyce teaspoons from this period, though in a later style: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391035023755?_mwBanner=1"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
Edited by thq
12/14/2015 4:45 pm
|
|
Valued Member
Australia
208 Posts |
Thanks for your posts, Cascade and thq. The Rockwell pic is appropo lol, it snowed last night, and the kids will be glad to get their prezzies. Maybe my spoon could be Early American, I e low tech for the time, few marks and simple design. I think it would sell on ebay even without a full attribution, maybe $75ish. It is fun to slowly piece together knowledge of early silver. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7390 Posts |
No its not fun it's a pain on the butt lol. For me I like finding early 20th century Taxco silver but even that can be daunting and there's a websites dedicated to the artists and hallmarks. England has a solid hallmark database but I think it only goes back so far due to a fire a couple hundred years ago that destroyed all previous records if memory serves
|
|
Valued Member
Australia
208 Posts |
I have ruled out American Gerardus Boyce, as his mark has a period after the G in "GB" which mine does not.
Have also ruled out Danish as there is no GB mark that is old enough.
Swedish Upsula has a the EGM mark, but there is also a U for Upsula which mine does not have.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
It certainly doesn't have British hallmarks.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3343 Posts |
Neither of these is shown in Currier's Marks of Early American Silversmiths, either as identified or as unidentified marks. Boyce is still my best guess, even with the pellet - maybe an apprentice piece by EGM? I wouldn't claim that if I was trying to sell it though.
You can also scratch France from possible countries of origin. The marking system is as elaborate as the UK's...but of course completely different...
"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
Edited by thq
12/18/2015 12:18 am
|
|
Valued Member
Australia
208 Posts |
Thanks for your input Sel_69I and thq. I agree that it is not British. It could possibly be a Boyce, but as thq said
I cannot say so for certain.
|
| |
Replies: 13 / Views: 2,439 |
|
Posted 12/13/2015 11:39 pm
