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 !!
American Sterling Silver Forum
How to Post Photos REGISTER (click here)

customtitle open  SMP Silver Salon Forums
tlineopen  American Sterling Silver
tline3open  Re: John Polhemus Biography / Pattern List

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:   Re: John Polhemus Biography / Pattern List
heritagesales
unregistered
iconnumber posted 10-03-2002 02:10 PM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
What is the best reference to obtain a complete biography about "John Polhemus", silversmith from New York City? I'm looking for complete pattern listings and also personal history of his silversmith shop, especially concerning the sale of it to Scheibler.

IP: Logged

William Hood

Posts: 271
Registered: Apr 2000

iconnumber posted 10-04-2002 01:16 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for William Hood     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I know of no single biographic source about John Polhamus (commonly misspelled Polhemus)(d. 1877). You will find various bits of information about him and his workship in several publicatons. Suggest you consult the indexes or alphabetical listings in the following:
1)Dorothy T. Rainwater and Judy Redfield, Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers, rev. fourth ed. (Atglen, PA: Schiffer, 1998).
2)Deborah Dependahl Waters, ed., Elegant Plate: Three Centuries of Precious Metals in New York City, Vol. I (New York: Museum of the City of New York, 2000)
3)Charles L. Venable, Silver in America, 1840-1940: A Century of Splendor (Dallas: Dallas Museum of Art, 1994).
A number of Polhamus-designed flatware patterns are illustrated on pp. 105-106 in Noel D. Turner, American Silver Flatware, 1837-1910 (San Diego: A. S. Barnes; reprinted San Francisco: Alan Wofsy Fine Arts, 1998). A few Polhamus flatware pieces retailed by Tiffany & Co. are illustrated in Chapter 1 in William P. Hood Jr., with Roslyn Berlin and Edward Wawrynek, Tiffany Silver Flatware, 1845-1905: When Dining Was an Art (Woodbridge, Suffolk: Antique Collectors' Club, 2000).

IP: Logged

bascall

Posts: 1629
Registered: Nov 99

iconnumber posted 09-25-2008 12:54 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for bascall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here's a bit about John Polhamus that may or may not be readily available: In the 1839-40 Manhattan, New York City Directory he was a silverchaser at 46 Forsyth.

In the 1850 U S Federal Census for New York City he is listed as a watchmaker with three other watchmakers listed in his household.

And in Dogget's 1850 New York City directory there is a John Polhamus listed as a jeweller.

Polhamus & Strong are listed at 203 Center Street in the 1863 IRS tax records with John Polhamus and George C Strong shown as the parties paying tax on silver ware.

In the 1860 and 1870 U S Federal Census's for New York City John is listed as a silversmith.

John was born in about 1811 in New York State.

John's wife looks to have been Delaphine Clark?

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