posted 02-08-2000 07:30 PM            

Most of the pertinent facts about the firm are presented in Rainwater, so I will not go into too much detail there. Suffice it to say that Currier & Roby was founded in New York City in 1900 or 1901 by Ernest M. Currier and Harry E. Roby. Roby died in 1924, and Currier in 1936, although the firm continued on. They apparent absorbed George A. Henckel & Co., a small "jobber", around 1940, and were themselves incorporated by Elgin Silvermiths, which lasted until 1976.

Currier was a great authority on early American silver. Anyone who has seen a copy of his posthumous Marks of American Silversmiths recognizes it as a splendid work of scholarship. Interestingly, all of the marks illustrated in the book were meticulously drawn by Mr. Currier himself. As one of the articles mentions, Currier was able to illustrate nuances of the marks that even escape photography! Currier was the designer for the firm.

Roby was a well trained silversmith who had worked at several different firms, including Durgin, J.B. & S.M. Knowles, and A.F. Towle before forming C&R. Roby was the one who brought Currier's designs to life.

I have had a chance to examine a number of pieces of Currier & Roby's work. Here are my conclusions, faulty though they may be:

1. Most pieces are marked with the CR cypher illustrated in Rainwater. That said, I believe that some pieces were left unmarked, to be later stamped by retailers. Robert Ensko of New York was one such retailer (See the Ensko thread in this forum).

2. The degree of hand work on these pieces is debatable. In one of Currier's writings, he implies that all of their reproductions are formed by machine. That said, I have seen a great Paul Revere reproduction cann that certainly appears to have been hand raised. Roby probably had the expertise to do it, but did he? Currier says that they can mimic the marks of hand raising if desired; perhaps this is an example.

3. In the Ensko thread is an illustration of Ensko's mark, along with a STERLING stamp. Remember this stamp, with the strange L; it appears on all the C&R sterling I have seen, including pieces otherwise unmarked.

4. Some pieces are marked PAUL REVERE REPRODUCTION, or have some other notation as to what the piece is a reproducing. It seems that the same stamp was used on early pieces and later production. The cann mentioned earlier, dated 1925, had this mark, as well as two bowls that probably dated from the 70's.

5. Strangely enough, I have seen the Currier & Roby mark on a very modern, Jensen-esque tray. It was a great piece of silver, and must date from the later years of the company. I would love to know how extensive this production was.

6. Just this weekend I saw the exact same tray with the mark of the Woodside Sterling Co. (A W in a wreath). What is the relation? Woodside (later Richard M. Woods and Co.) were apparently wholesalers; perhaps C&R used their products to supplement their line.

Any additional pieces or information, particularly regarding the later years of the company, would be very much appreciated.

posted 02-27-2005 04:29 PM            

Brent commented, "5.) Strangely enough, I have seen the Currier & Roby mark on a very modern, Jensen-esque tray. It was a great piece of silver, and must date from the later years of the company. I would love to know how extensive this production was."

Owned this one for years and still love it's clean lines, definitely looks Scandinavian inspired to me. It's very well made and solid, as is every other C&R piece I've handled. Measures approx. 4" wide and 2-1/2" tall. Weighs in at just under 4.2 troy ounces. Looks especially nice with my enameled Marthinsen Bluebell pattern cream ladle in it. Sorry for all the reflection, quick picture under bad conditions (it's been raining all day here in "sunny" Florida, would have been perfect overcast day for pictures if not for the drizzle).

Cheryl

posted 05-08-2005 06:34 PM            

Additionally we had a muffineer (sugar sifter) that looked like most muffineers look. It was not especially arts and crafts in design and most would not have picked it out as C&Rm though it enjoyed being a bit heavier than most sugar shakers.

I am quite a fan also and hope to find a piece with the really fine danish/moderne posted in this site by another responder.

posted 06-26-2007 04:47 PM            

What can I do to determine the wholesaler/manufacturer (Currier & Roby, perhaps?)? Also, what approach can I take to determine the original's current location?

posted 06-17-2011 01:10 PM            

Currier & Roby
Potter-Bentley (1928-1933 successor to Potter Studio)
ONC (Old Newbury Crafters)