Posts: 1326
Registered: Apr 93

posted 02-03-2002 11:47 AM            

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I recently read about a church putting some of its historic silver up for auction. My first reaction was one of regret and sadness. Whoever gave the plate to this church, I am sure did so out of love and respect for the institution. Auctioning it off struck me as selling off a piece of your soul (pardon the pun). Is this selloff of Church silver happening in the Newark area and if so, is the Newark Museum involved in trying to keep such collections intact? Are any other museums focusing on Church silver coming onto the market? I suppose that since Churches are tax exempt entities, there is no motivation for them to make tax deductible donations of this silver to institutions such as yours.

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Posts: 289
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posted 02-04-2002 09:48 AM            

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This is an interesting subject. I've seen the same reports, and at first I was filled with similar regret. But then I reflected that in the 18th c., silverware was seen not just as objects of use and beauty, but also a financial nest egg that could be cashed in in case of a rainy day. Surely the donors of those silver pieces meant for them to sustain the institutions to which they donated them .. whether as ritual objects or as necessary capital. Viewed in that light, it's really rather touching that 200 or 300 years after the donors' deaths, their gifts are being used to fix the church roof or help support a soup kitchen in the basement.

Let's not forget, the role of churches is not to serve as museums of old silver. And the value of these objects multiplied so far beyond what the original donors imagined that it's simply out of the question for most churches to insure them fully. In most cases they just ended up languishing in safe-deposit boxes, unseen, unused, and unappreciated -- which is surely not what the donors would have wanted! So, sentiment aside, perhaps it's better for them to end up in the hands of collectors and museums that will study and appreciate them -- while the churches, we can hope, put the proceeds to good use.

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Posts: 1265
Registered: May 99

posted 02-04-2002 11:01 AM            

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Most church silver isn't worth much--but 17th and 18th century church silver is an exception. Both Sotheby's and Christie's had great caches of colonial era church plate for sale in January, and at Sotheby's at least there were millions in the final reckoning for the churches that sold. While any museum would have loved to get that old silver, the financial impact of the sale--to insure the future safety of the church building and its mission--certainly balances the sadness of having to sell it. The previous comment about the silver being "cash" is (forgive the expression) right on the money. Until the US founded banks, silver objects were in fact cash "on the hoof." I am sure that some of those objects, by the way, did make it into museums--those museums with rich patrons who care. IN any case, none of it will be melted down, as they are far more valuable for their artistic and historic selves than for their piddling silver content.

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Posts: 1326
Registered: Apr 93

posted 02-04-2002 09:24 PM            

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Thank you both for putting it all in perspective. I guess it is good to see that this silver is being used to further the good works of the institutions they were meant to help. I hope it all found good homes.

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posted 02-05-2002 03:25 PM              

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This is an interesting topic to me as a researcher. I'm investigating the work of my father, the late Canadian silversmith, Harold G. Stacey. He was active in Toronto and in New York, and much of his work was for religious institutions.

I have found it very depressing to find, particulary in Roman Catholic settings for some reason, that often items donated my well-meaning parishioners, in the 1950s and 60s, has turned out to have been "lost" or "sold" or "given to foreign missions". There seems to be little value placed on these gifts, for which someone was prepared to fork over good bucks so that some family member could be memorialised.

Yes, I can see the point about needing funds for other purposes...and yes, I don't like the thought that so many items are moth-balled and "forgotten". But...

I've been told, when I try to find some of my Dad's stuff, that "the nuns are all dying off and no one remembers any more". What about insurance policies, documentation of donations, etc.? Isn't there a responsibility due here?

Just some random thoughts to throw out to this fantastic forum! Any more ideas?

Callie Stacey
Harold G. Stacey Archives

PS For the US side of this, in the Corning Museum of Glass collection in Corning, there is a sterling and crystal chalice/ciborium set, made by my father. It was originally made as a prototype for Steuben Glass in the early 50s, when they were considering adding a fine line of silver to complement their glass. The collection of 50-odd prototypes WAS SUPPOSED to go on display last year when the Museum was renovated, but I don't know if it has. Solve Hallqvist worked with/for my father on this project, which was terminated int 1952.

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Posts: 1326
Registered: Apr 93

posted 03-30-2002 02:06 PM            

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We recently picked up a copy of The Old Silver of American Churches by E. Alfred Jones. It is a massive book chock full of an inventory of American Church silver circa 1913. It describes each piece and even includes cost information. We wondered what would possess someone to undertake such a project. We're certainly glad he did. I wonder how much of this silver is still with the churches listed. Will the next E. Alfred Jones please step forward? Time for another inventory?

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Posts: 1070
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-30-2002 08:51 PM            

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June, What an incredible find!!!!! If you find a second copy of Mr. Jones book send it my way.... I understand it is the quintesential book on the subject of early American silver in churches and was acclaimed in the England as well as the U.S. Mr. Jones was one of the first to show that the craftmen here were acomplished silversmiths comperable to many in Europe. Not a popular thing to be saying about the rebelous colonists, and by a respected English scholar. When you and Scott come to Tucson for a visit, bring the book with you....

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