posted 07-23-2006 11:04 PM            

Here is a scarce piece of silver by the talented but little known Theodore Hanford Pond. From what I have been able to gather on-line, he was educated at the Pratt Institute, designed glass for Tiffany Studios, ran the Pond Applied Arts Studios in Baltimore, MD from 1911-14, and held various academic positions. He probably had more influence as a teacher than as a working silversmith, and was more of an artist than businessman. Apparently what he did make was all done by hand, by himself. As such, his pieces are hard to find.

This piece, likely a cucumber server, has a dished flat blade, a very thin stem, and an oddly shaped handle with a high arch. The bowl and stem appear to have been made in two pieces and soldered together, despite the presence of a rattail drop. Again, we see a misunderstanding of traditonal spoon making, leading to a weak, very difficult and unnecessary joint.

The mark is only one of Pond's. I have seen other pieces marked just POND, and there is a dragonfly mark as well.

Does anyone have other Pond pieces to share, or more information about this underappreciated craftsman?

Brent

posted 07-24-2006 04:31 PM            

Pond was an iffluential teacher and speaker and taught at the Rhode Island School of Design during it's early years. I have always loved the "Jack in the Pulpit" copper vase he made. An internet search will direct you to a picture of the vase and I have even seen one for sale on eBay years ago.

posted 08-09-2007 08:38 PM            

The KWO-NE-SHE is Chippewa for dragonfly, and was used in Longfellow's "Song of Hiawatha."

The mark is used on this server:

and this ladle:

The THP mark shown above (and here):

was used on this fork:

Pond also used a simpler mark:

on pieces like this spoon:

posted 08-10-2007 02:49 PM            

Glad to see you chime in with your wonderful examples of Pond and his marks. I am collecting a short bio with all the info I can glean from any source.

He was a most interesting man. I wish I had access to all the libraries back East.

I suspect there was a chronology to the marks and when they were used. I believe the current thought is that the Kwo-ne-she mark was only used during (1911-14) his stay in Baltimore and the Pond Applied Arts Studio.

Fred