SMP Logo
SM Publications
Silver Salon Forums - The premier site for discussing Silver.
SMP | Silver Salon Forums | SSF - Guidelines | SSF - FAQ | Silver Sales

The Silver Salon Forums
Since 1993
Over 11,793 threads & 64,769 posts !!
Silver Jewelry Forum
How to Post Photos

Want to be a Moderator?
customtitle open  SMP Silver Salon Forums
tlineopen  Silver Jewelry
tline3open  O.B. Arts & Crafts sterling pin

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

ForumFriend SSFFriend: Email This Page to Someone! next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   O.B. Arts & Crafts sterling pin
vathek

Posts: 966
Registered: Jun 99

iconnumber posted 11-02-2003 03:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for vathek     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have this nicely done arts & crafts sterling pin with blister pearl and applied granulation marked only O.B. sterling. Has anyone seen other pieces with this mark? thanks.

IP: Logged

Patrick Vyvyan

Posts: 640
Registered: May 2003

iconnumber posted 11-02-2003 03:28 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Patrick Vyvyan     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A ring (now sold) can be seen here:
quote:
Starstruck Moon glow & Sterling Ring

Just stunning sterling ring with center elongated stone. I'm really not sure what this stone is much like a moonstone in a rich pink color when held at different angles in the light there are shining "stars" glowing inside it in a blue/purple shade. Bezel set with a scalloped edge and on both sides of the band extra fine filigree work. Really lovely piece of workmanship!. Signed inside OB.Sterling.(Maybe Otsby Barton Co.-Providence, R.I. but not positive) Approx. Size 6.



The seller suggests a possible attribution to Otsby Barton Co. Providence, R.I.

IP: Logged

Paul Lemieux

Posts: 1792
Registered: Apr 2000

iconnumber posted 11-03-2003 12:53 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Paul Lemieux     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I believe I have seen that mark before on similar baroque pearl pins. I do not know whose it is. Probably a small silversmithy somewhere. There were many small (now unidentified) shops that produced handsome Arts and Crafts jewelry, often with baroque pearls, in the first 15-20 years of the last century.

Interestingly, the ring and brooch are very different in style and make. I wouldn't be surprised if they were made by different makers. The marks could be different, unfortunately, for the ring we can only rely on the auction description (always a beacon of truth) for what the mark actually is.

Specifically: the ring's shank is one machine-stamped piece, the stone being set in a bezel made of prefabricated bezel wire. Also the stone is an artificial "jelly opal" (glass). Conversely, the pin is hand made, from the floral/foliate decoration to the pearl's setting. The ring seems to be 1930s-1940s, versus 1900-1915 for the pin.

IP: Logged

vathek

Posts: 966
Registered: Jun 99

iconnumber posted 11-04-2003 08:02 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for vathek     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have seen pieces similar to the ring with the OB mark, but as said, it's so different in style and construction it's hard to believe it's the same firm, unless it started out small, making hand-crafted pieces and became more commercial. I can't find any info about Otsby Barton on the web btw.

IP: Logged

Patrick Vyvyan

Posts: 640
Registered: May 2003

iconnumber posted 11-04-2003 08:14 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Patrick Vyvyan     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Likewise, I can find nothing about Otsby Barton. However there is a Rhode Island company Ostby Barton which NOW makes electical components. Perhaps they have an earlier history?

IP: Logged

Paul Lemieux

Posts: 1792
Registered: Apr 2000

iconnumber posted 11-04-2003 10:27 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Paul Lemieux     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
According to Rainwater, Ostby-Barton of Providence made gold rings and was at one time the world's largest gold ring manufacturer. No mention of silver rings, but the ring pictured in this forum seems typical of something that would have come from such a manufacturer (machine stamped parts, not bad quality). It must just be that the pearl pin was made by a small workshop whose initials also happened to be OB. I am pretty sure that Ostby Barton did not make the brooch.

[This message has been edited by Paul Lemieux (edited 11-04-2003).]

IP: Logged

All times are ET

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46a


1. Public Silver Forums (open Free membership) - anyone with a valid e-mail address may register. Once you have received your Silver Salon Forum password, and then if you abide by the Silver Salon Forum Guidelines, you may start a thread or post a reply in the New Members' Forum. New Members who show a continued willingness to participate, to completely read and abide by the Guidelines will be allowed to post to the Member Public Forums.
Click here to Register for a Free password

2. Private Silver Salon Forums (invitational or $ donation membership) - The Private Silver Salon Forums require registration and special authorization to view, search, start a thread or to post a reply. Special authorization can be obtained in one of several ways: by Invitation; Annual $ Donation; or via Special Limited Membership. For more details click here (under development).

3. Administrative/Special Private Forums (special membership required) - These forums are reserved for special subjects or administrative discussion. These forums are not open to the public and require special authorization to view or post.


| Home | Order | The Guide to Evaluating Gold & Silver Objects | The Book of Silver
| Update BOS Registration | Silver Library | For Sale | Our Wants List | Silver Dealers | Speakers Bureau |
| Silversmiths | How to set a table | Shows | SMP | Silver News |
copyright © 1993 - 2022 SM Publications
All Rights Reserved.
Legal & Privacy Notices