|
|
|
| How to Post Photos |
REGISTER (click here)
|
|
|
|
| How to Post Photos |
REGISTER (click here)
|
|
 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 American Sterling Silver
 Use of term "English Sterling"
|
 SSFFriend: Email This Page to Someone! |
next newest topic | next oldest topic |
| Author | Topic: Use of term "English Sterling" |
|
Ulysses Dietz Moderator Posts: 1265 |
posted 02-13-2009 10:51 AM
  
This wonderful coffee pot from the 1870s, which you all have proven to me is indeed by John Wendt of New York. The mark has been carefully obliterated. A long block-letter company name (BRAVERMAN & LEVY?) arches OVER the legend SAN FRANCISCO and below this curves ENGLISH-STERLING. San Francsico was not entirely blotted out. The retailer or manufacturer is unreadable, much as I tried. The coffee pot was attributed to John Wendt by the vendor who sold it to the collector. It is a splendid example of neo-grec aestheticism, with its wonderful floral motifs on a stippled ground--unlike anything I can call to mind. As a curator, the San Francisco origin is more important even than the maker--but I'm glad to know that Wendt used English Sterling (other than Grosjean and Woodward for Tiffany). Here is a great neo-grec horned mask from the spout: And a slightly blurred shot of the die-roll at the base: IP: Logged |
|
Brent Posts: 1507 |
posted 02-13-2009 11:43 AM
Definitely Wendt, and the scratched out mark is almost certainly Braverman & Levy. I have seen a number of identifiable Wendt pieces retailed by Braverman & Levy. Wendt also sold through M.M. Frederick of Virginia City, Nevada. I know Gorham had retailers in San Francisco, and I wouldn't be surprised if some others did as well. I have a picture somewhere of what is probably your mark, or close to it. I'll post it if I can find it. Brent IP: Logged |
|
Brent Posts: 1507 |
posted 02-13-2009 12:02 PM
 Hi again, Here is the piece, a little baby cup. Is this the mark? When I lived in California I saw several pieces of known Wendt flatware patterns like Medallion and Ram's Head with Braverman & Levy marks. So, it seems clear that B&L were retailing Wendt silver, and we know Wendt used an English Sterling stamp. There may have been other San Francisco Wendt retailers, but I kind of doubt it. Close enough for an attribution? Brent IP: Logged |
|
ellabee Posts: 306 |
posted 02-13-2009 01:52 PM
This is a side issue, but what kind of vine is that? It's not an ivy or a grapevine, at least not a typical example. IP: Logged |
|
Ulysses Dietz Moderator Posts: 1265 |
posted 02-15-2009 08:44 AM
Wow! This is fantastic. The only difference in the mark is that SAN FRANCISCO is spelled out in full--but it's a much bigger piece, and that would make sense. I had also found elsewhere since posting this that Wendt did indeed use ENGLISH STERLING. Thanks again, oh brave silver heroes. IP: Logged |
|
Ulysses Dietz Moderator Posts: 1265 |
posted 03-06-2009 05:26 PM
I'm just adding this because i've added pictures above and it did not bump the thread up to the top of the list. I'd love to see more John Wendt pieces that people know of... IP: Logged |
|
Ulysses Dietz Moderator Posts: 1265 |
posted 03-12-2009 07:28 AM
Oh, and the vines around the bottom of the two sides appear to be morning glories. All the flowers are very much in the "language of flowers" vocabulary of the time--but the low-relief arrangement is very much "Kensington School" and looks at the aesthetic movement. That's one reason I like the design of this so much. IP: Logged |
|
ahwt Posts: 2334 |
posted 03-12-2009 03:25 PM
As Ulysses noted the mark on this coffee pot was carefully obliterated by someone in the past. The defacing of marks on 19th century American silver has happened more times than I would expect (actually once would be more that I would expect) and I have never been able to determine why this was done. Why would anyone want to scratch out the Braverman & Levy name? Defacing of marks is not a problem unique to the U.S., but it does seem to occur in greater number on American silver. IP: Logged |
|
Dale Posts: 2132 |
posted 03-12-2009 08:39 PM
The Meriden Brittania Company obliterated its marks on pieces that failed a quality test. On flatware, an arrow was stamped over the mark. That is all I know about this subject. IP: Logged |
|
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 |
posted 03-12-2009 11:02 PM
quote: Often times the retailer's name was stamped directly by the manufacturer prior to shipping to the final destination. If the retailer retracted an order, the maker might kill the mark and send the piece on to another seller. Or the goods could be picked up as old stock by a second retailer, who excised the original dealer's indicia. IP: Logged |
|
ahwt Posts: 2334 |
posted 03-14-2009 02:46 PM
Thanks Dale and WEV. The zigzag lines on this pot look to be professionally made - much like process used to gather silver for assaying and WEV's suggestion may be the answer since the pot is obviously not of inferior quality. I have seen other defacement's of marks where the removal of silver was not done professionally. Someone just used a pointed object to scratch out the name or set of initials. That action is still a mystery to me. IP: Logged |
|
bascall Posts: 1629 |
posted 03-15-2009 12:19 AM
Just a little bit about Braverman & Levy: there is reference to Louis Braverman and John Levy being in business in San Francisco, California from 1855 to 1881. In 1882 John Levy & Co jewelry manufacturers and Louis Braverman & Co Diamond Importer are listed in the San Francisco City Directory. Louis passed away in 1909 and John's wife is listed as a widow in the 1900 U S Federal Census for San Francisco. Louis' son Sigmund Louis continued as a diamond importer into the twentieth century. Sigmund has an 1882 earring patent, 263755. IP: Logged |
|
Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 01-28-2018 01:17 PM
In case anyone's still pondering the Braverman & Levy - Wendt link, I spotted this mark on a mug the same shape as the one Brent posted. (This is the seller's photo, not mine; it's not my mug.) IP: Logged |
|
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 01-28-2018 01:34 PM
It's a much better example ...thanks so much. IP: Logged |
All times are ET | next newest topic | next oldest topic |
  |
|
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. 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. |
|
copyright © 1993 - 2022
SM Publications
All Rights Reserved. Legal & Privacy Notices |
