posted 12-31-2005 10:39 PM            

Over the years, I have found that certain books are entries into the world of silver.

What books would you recomend to the silver novice, and why?

posted 12-31-2005 11:05 PM            

First where do your interests lie.

If you go the Silver Forums Main page & click on the Silver Library there are a ton of books listed. You might view the list then try & narrow your choice of what it is you would like to know about, (besides everything). Then if you make a list of the ones that you think may help your particular interest you can then check to see if your library or local book store may have them so you can peruse them at your leisure & decide if you want to add them to your library. Many times these books sound great but you may find it doesn't contain what you need. Personally I like ones with pictures.

Always books with Makers marks are important, pattern ID etc. those to me are the root books. I could go on & on but hopefully that's a start.

Happy New Year from the Big Apple!
Jersey

posted 01-01-2006 03:25 AM            

I was kind of angling for recomendations of a specific book (or books) that that you found helpful as a beginner. What did it for you?

One book I found that helped me early on was "Old Silver", by Seymour Wyler. It had a discussion section for the first 120 pages or so talking about the silversmiths trade, then got on to British hallmarks, european hallmarks and some American makers. Really neat suplement to the old auction catalalogues I was picking up at the time (1980).

Most of us have extensive libraries on silver, but we all started somewhere. What book on silver helped you the most as a novice?

sincerley

posted 01-01-2006 07:00 AM            

It was first published in 1956, so some of the 'facts' have changed but that apart I would recommend it to anybody with an interest in silver.

The more recent "Silver in England" by Philippa Glanville is also a brilliant book, with lots of social anecdote and a real understanding of how to make the topic interesting to the reader.

Happy New Year!

posted 01-01-2006 11:22 AM            

I thought that's where you might be going.......I have Wyler's book but I have difficulty reading it (my problem).

Dorothy Rainwater's Encyclopedia of American Silver Marks is very helpful. Also Miller's: Silver & Sheffield Plate Marks, good to carry in your pocket.

Must get back to making my chocolate pudding pie! Family is coming if they can struggle out after making merry.

Have a good day.
Jersey

posted 01-01-2006 12:39 PM            

For silverplate, Hagan is a good resource. Davis and Diebel's second edition is a more advanced work that goes into the background of many patterns.

Catalog reprints are also very usefull resources. These exist in quantity but some have had short printing lives. Each one shows an outline of what a particular company offered. The 1886 Meriden Brittania Company catalog is one of the very best guides to high style Victorian silver.

posted 01-01-2006 03:21 PM            

I don't have the knowledge of the works in question to write these brief descriptions, but as an historian I am very familiar with annotated bibliographies. I would be happy to work on this (compile and organize) project if others are interested in it and could provide the commentary. Just a thought.

posted 01-01-2006 10:27 PM            

As an outsider looking in, as it were, the following were a good introduction to the size,inventiveness and sheer vigour of the North American silverware industry: "Silver in America 1840-1940" by Charles Venable. "The Colonial Silversmith" by Henry Kauffman; and Dorothy Rainwater's "Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers", of which the 4th edition is said to be the best.

Wyler's "Book of Old Silver" is easy to find, and cheap, but as one learns, it is frustrating and flawed. The "must have" if collecting/studying English-Scottish-Irish silver is Ian Pickford's version of "Jackson's Silver and Gold Marks...", preferrably the major work, but otherwise the so-called pocket edition.

posted 01-02-2006 12:42 AM            

I am with you on adding a paragraph on the books that Scott has listed in his library. Perhaps other books could be added and reviewed?... Scott?. your reading on this would be appreciated.

This current thread got started from a question "Unknown pattern", listed under the GORHAM/WHITING board. I have listed 6 books there, with brief descriptions of contents, and I know that the descriptions work, but they could use some polishing.

Thanks.

posted 01-02-2006 05:45 AM            

========

I like the idea of providing a mini description of some sort.

The standard of what makes up the content of a description would have to be determined (not in this thread). I don�t feel one individual�s opinion unmeasured by others would be helpful. For the descriptions to be truly helpful to the uninitiated trying to review the list, the descriptions would have to be editorially reviewed/approved by a small committee with access to the book(s) being described.

The editorial review committee would also have be prepared to hear from the public/authors/publishers about disagreements with descriptions and then determine if changes to existing descriptions are required. I don�t have the time to be arbiter of such matters.

If a small group of you would like to work on this project it would be my pleasure to make a private Silver Caucus Room available. Periodically I would be very happy to add the groups approved descriptions to the Silver Library list. Email me ( info@SMPub.com?subject=SSF%20Library ) if you would like to volunteer. When emailing please make sure the subject is SSF Library

posted 01-02-2006 02:08 PM            

Although written in 1984 it is to my mind still the best introduction to the subject. The fact that it was reprinted, unaltered in 1992, 1994, and 1997 and is still widely available is a testimony to its value. The author, now dead, was a very knowledgeable dealer of the old school who leant his trade the hard way – by experience and love. The book is extremely readable and covers the history ,development of style, usage and market in English silver. It includes a chapter (by Michael Ingham ) on Armorial engraving , specific chapters on Marks, Values, Pitfalls, Inspection, Sheffield Plate, Small Collectible Silver and also contains numerous tips and worth-while anecdotes and, above all, 350 good well captioned illustrations. The author attempts to provide a self study education for the novice (which most people will ignore ) but to quote the bookjacket blurb “ It would be impossible for the beginner to read this book without learning”

I would replace the word “beginner” with “anyone however experienced” and add “and great pleasure" to the end of that quote. I wish I’d read it before I started!

Like all good experts the author has very strong views on certain subjects, but his slight bias in some matters is not disguised in any way and personally I agree most of his points.

Usual price secondhand in England is around Ten dollars US. I am not on commission incidentally, despite my passionate advocacy of this book ! If you get it you will enjoy it, learn from it and keep it!

posted 01-02-2006 03:07 PM            

This is exactly the kind of annotation that could easily be added to the book list. Combing the forum or using the thread Swarter referenced would surface other such summaries. The key is to pull all of these threads together in one place.