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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 20th/21st Century Silversmiths
 Handicraft Shop
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| Author | Topic: Handicraft Shop |
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FredZ Posts: 1070 |
posted 09-21-2004 12:23 PM
  
I have been fortunate to acquire a few items from the Handicraft Shop that was established at the Boston Society of Arts & Crafts during the first part of the 20th Century. It might be interesting to talk about the work produced during this period by the craftsmen and women who worked in this important shop. There were particular shapes and forms that were repeated by the various craftsmen for sale at the shop. Bowls were a popular item. I was surprized when I bought an 18th century style marrow scoop with the Handicraft Shop mark and the mark of Franz Leinonen. Each craftsman tended to make slight variations and lent his particular design preference to the items he made for the shop. I would be interested to hear from others and their thoughts. Fred [This message has been edited by FredZ (edited 09-21-2004).] IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 09-21-2004 01:19 PM
To get things started here are a few related posts:
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middletom Posts: 467 |
posted 09-21-2004 09:13 PM
Fred, I'm entirely ignorant of that shop, what they produced and for how long. It would be interesting to see how their work compared to the work of the Stone shop. Stone's seems to have been traditional colonial styles, but from the name I would guess that the Arts and Crafts shop made designs of a more modern style. Am I correct? IP: Logged |
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Brent Posts: 1507 |
posted 09-21-2004 10:29 PM
A very interesting topic! The Handicraft Shop of Boston produced some great pieces of silver and copper, while maintaining a progressive workplace environment. Aside from Karl Leinonen, the most celebrated mamber of the shop was Mary Knight, who I believe shared "foreman" status with Leinonen. Knight's original specialty was leatherwork, and her pieces are normally decorated with punched designs, often filled in with enamel. There is some debate as to whether she actually worked the silver herself, or simply applied the decoration. Regardless, her work has gone through the roof price-wise. Just as an aside, the arts & crafts movement really allowed women to shine as artisans. The case can be made that some of the finest products in metal and ceramics from the period were those made by women. Brent IP: Logged |
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vathek Posts: 966 |
posted 09-22-2004 07:55 AM
Did the Handicraft Shop have its own punch? IP: Logged |
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FredZ Posts: 1070 |
posted 09-22-2004 10:29 AM
The Handicraft Shop used an intaglio mark of H S seperated by an anvil. It is usually accompanied by a date and the last initial or mark of the actual maker. I have seen the following maker's marks: F Carl Forsen
I have not seen the mark of Adolph Kunkler nor Alfred Swanson with the Handicraft mark. Swanson & Gyllenber formed a partnership. The Dedham Museum website has a nice history of the pair and good examples of their work and mark. I also have a bowl with only the Handicraft Shop and date. A good summary of the Shop was first covered in Eaton's book Handicraft of New England. Inspring Reform has a good chronical of the members of the Shop. Hopefully one of the other forum members can post the mark of the shop. The Shop created a variety of items including Colonial inspired designs. Many of the craftsmen were immigrants who had received their training in their own contry. Most designs were without decoration except for fluting and the decoration and enameling by Mary Knight. No appologies need be made for the work produced by these craftsmen. Arthur Stone was a master designer and a fabulous chaser. I delight in every piece of his I am fortunate to touch and study. Fred [This message has been edited by FredZ (edited 09-22-2004).] [This message has been edited by FredZ (edited 09-22-2004).] IP: Logged |
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middletom Posts: 467 |
posted 09-25-2004 04:51 PM
The name Gebelien caught my eye, for there was a store by that name for many years in Boston. They produced flatware of their own, but my experience with them, my having come into the field in the seventies, was reproducing a few small spoons for them, which they apparently were no longer able to make themselves. the spoons had a raised wheat sheaf design in the upper, front of the handle. When they ordered the piece from us, they would send along the die for hammering the design into the silver. Recently we have sold some of our own pieces to Gebelien, which is now located somewhere in Vermont. My best, Geoff IP: Logged |
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FredZ Posts: 1070 |
posted 09-26-2004 12:33 AM
Geoff, This is the same Gebelein. George Christian Gebelein was a German immigrant who excelled in silversmithing and was known as a scholar in early American silver. He reproduced some of the finest silver and was prolific in his inventory of fine work. Gebelein's is now owned by Dave Thomas from Vermont and he deals in antique silver. The Gebelein archives and most of the tools were donated to the Ford Museum in Michigan. Fred IP: Logged |
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agleopar Posts: 850 |
posted 09-28-2004 11:29 PM
I just wanted to mention Herbert Gebelein who ran the shop, (aprox. 40 yrs.) after his father and before the Thomases saved the name. He was not a silversmith but could tell you how to repair or make, quite a bit. He was The Expert in antique silver in general and was defered to by most everyone in chinesse export and two or three other areas. A lovely humble man whose great love was silver. IP: Logged |
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Brent Posts: 1507 |
posted 10-26-2004 10:07 AM
 Hello all, Here is a small ladle by Mary Katherine Knight for the Handicraft Shop. It was almost certainly part of a "mayonnaise set", which were popular in the 10's and 20's. The bowl would likely have been in the "Revere" style, with an underplate. At any rate, this piece shows the type of puched design that Knight adapted from leatherworking. As in this case, many of her pieces had enamels set into the designs. The bowl of the ladle was formed separately and applied to the handle, secured by a "rat-tail" drop. As mentioned in previous threads, the A&C movement silversmiths were often inspired by early American silver work, but failed to understand the construction methods. Brent IP: Logged |
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FredZ Posts: 1070 |
posted 10-26-2004 10:27 AM
Brent, What a treat to see one of Ms. Knight's works up close. Most of what I own of the shop was made by Leinonen. Her use of enamel in localized dots is peculiar to her and seldom seen in other work. I have seen the complete sets of bowl, undeplate and ladle. How nice to be able to acquire the single ladle. Thanks for sharing. Fred IP: Logged |
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