posted 12-19-2009 03:32 PM            

I wonder if younger collectors even know or care about early Gorham work early American silver or Paul Storr etc and as mentioned in another thread just come to see silver as a commodity.

Any thoughts?
Are we in denial?

posted 12-19-2009 04:18 PM            

quote:

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2009 - Boy Scout
Merit Badges Requirements
This booklet is designed to bring together the requirements for merit badges, rank advancements, and Eagle Palms, and to highlight recognitions for special opportunities.

From page 139:

Silversmith

1. Name and describe the use of a silversmith’s basic tools.
   
2. Create a sketch of two objects to make from sheet silver. Include each component’s dimensions on your sketch, which need not be to scale.
   
3. Make two objects out of 18- or 20-gauge sheet copper. Use patterns either provided by your counselor or made by you and approved by your counselor. Both objects must include a soldered joint. If you have prior silversmithing experience, you may substitute sterling silver, nickel silver,
   or lead-free pewter.

1. At least one object must include a sawed component you have made yourself.
   
2. At least one object must include a sunken part you have made yourself.
   
3. Clean and polish your objects.

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posted 12-19-2009 05:28 PM            

I get a quite a few email queries via my SILVERSMITHS & RELATED CRAFTSMEN site, as one might imagine. Setting aside those purely interested in the genealogy, about 70 percent are dealers (ebay and otherwise) looking for sales info. Most of the rest are medium to very experienced collector with questions, insights, or corrections. Perhaps two or three percent are beginners looking for an answer or advice and of those I can only recall three that have stayed in touch. I have talked with my daughter about collecting among her peer group (she's 25). They do go after jewelry in a big way, from thrift stores to high end retailers, but it's all by eye and pocket book; they have little interest in old work, per say -- their ancient history is the 1950s. Silver hollow- and flatware don't enter the picture at all. With $30,000 or so in student loan debt, a Gorham teaset sitting on the shelf doesn't make a lot of sense.