posted 03-07-2001 12:23 PM            

This is a piece of medallion flatware with an unusual story. As you can see (I hope), the piece features mostly engraved decoration, with an applied medallion. It is marked FORD, TUPPER & BEHAN, as shown. The mark "FORD & TUPPER" is often found on New York silver from the 1860's and 1870's, as they were a major retail outlet for manufacturers like John Polhamus. The Ford, Tupper & Behan mark, though, is quite rare. According to Don Soeffing's research, as outlined in Rainwater, the firm was founded in 1866 when Ford and Behan left William Gale to join Tupper in a new company. By 1867, though, the firm was known simply as Ford & Tupper. Whether Behan left, or the company name was simply shortened, we do not know. Regardless, we can date this spoon to 1866-67.

When I showed this spoon to Don Soeffing, he immediately thought it was by William Gale, as the medallion figure is one Gale used. When he saw the mark, though, he told me that there is good evidence that Ford & Tupper did indeed do some manufacturing, and were not merely retailers. This is also explained in Rainwater. He proposed, and I agree, that this spoon was actually produced by the new company of Ford, Tupper & Behan, using a medallion copied, or even "borrowed", from William Gale's factory.

Does anyone else have silver marked Ford, Tupper & Behan? If so, please post a reply. I would love to see what is out there.

Brent