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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 American Silver before sterling
 Masi of Washington, DC
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| Author | Topic: Masi of Washington, DC |
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June Martin Forum Master Posts: 1326 |
posted 01-29-2002 08:22 PM
  
At the Pier show last weekend we ran into a man who said his wife is a descendent of an 18th century silversmith named Masi from Washington, DC. I couldn't find anything on Masi in the Belden book. Has anyone heard of him? We encouraged the man to have his wife check out these forums and we hope she turns up to shed some light. IP: Logged |
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wev Moderator Posts: 4121 |
posted 01-29-2002 10:21 PM
While Seraphim Masi is in my silversmith's tree, I can't give you much information (dying to know more!) past his birth c 1802 in Italy, his working dates 1820-1855 in Washington DC, and his marriage to Catherine Bradford of that city. Their daughter, Catherine, married Reginald Steele in 1855 (he is descended from the Mayflower Brewster family). I do have one example listed of Seraphim's work, a skippet made c 1840. A skippet is the case made to hold and protect the large wax seal attached to large legal documents such as treaties. The majority of American skippets are unmarked, but several District of Columbia silversmiths are known to have made them as special commissions for the government. Charles A. Burnett (1760 - 1849) made the silver skippet for the Treaty of Ghent in 1815 and Jacob Leonard (working c. 1810 - c. 1825) was paid for four silver-gilt skippets in 1819. Masi made four skippets in 1824, one in 1825, and several others over his career, including several gold skippets for Commodore Perry's Oriental expedition of 1852. Samuel Lewis (working c. 1850 - c. 1870) made skippets until 1870 after which the practice of using these containers -- and the hockey puck sized seals they held -- fell out of fashion. I certainly hope we will hear more information on the gentleman from his descendant. IP: Logged |
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Bill H Posts: 31 |
posted 01-30-2002 12:19 AM
A little more information is available on Masi from Quimby's American Silver at Winterthur, pg 397. "Seraphim Masi worked in Washington, D.C. ca. 1822-52. He advertised in the 1822 Washington directory as a 'Watchmaker and Jewler' who sold silver work, spectacles and 'a variety of other fancy goods.' Most of what we know about him occured during the 1820s. A chalice, paten and baptismal bowl bearing the "S. MASI" stamp were presented to Christ Church in 1826. (They were still owned by the church in 1979). A spur with Masi's stamp, owned by Wilmer McLean (at whose house in Appomattox, Virginia, Lee surrendered to Grant) is now owned by Appomattox County Courthouse National Historical Park. In 1825, Masi was paid $100 for a die of the great seal of the United States, and he is known to have made a number of skippets. Masi is known to have placed his stamp on silver made by others. A coffeepot and teapot, now in the DAR Museum and probably made by Fletcher & Gardiner, bear the Baltimore pillars stamp, a Baltimore date later and Masi's stamp. Masi appears in the Washington directories for 1830 and 1843 on Pennsylvania Avenue. He placed display ads in the back of the directories for 1822 and 1830. IP: Logged |
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wev Moderator Posts: 4121 |
posted 01-30-2002 02:55 PM
Welcome to the family, Bill, and thank you for that. I don't have a copy of Quimby's book. I did a bit more digging on the line of Masi's son-in-law, Reginald Heber Steele. One would be hard pressed to marry into a family with a better heritage in American silver -- he is related to no less than 243 makers including the Avery, Bailey, Marquand, Moulton, and Whiting clans and just about everyone else in between. IP: Logged |
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Fitzhugh Posts: 136 |
posted 01-30-2002 10:50 PM
I'm half asleep right now, but didn't Seraphim Masi have a brother who was also a DC silversmith?? IP: Logged |
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wev Moderator Posts: 4121 |
posted 01-30-2002 11:00 PM
Interesting. I ran across this record: Bill of Sale/Inventory - Masi & Ward; 01/06/1853 in the Georgetown University Special Collection holdings. I have only trace a daughter to Masi and Catherine Bradford; is F. Masi his brother then, also a silversmith? IP: Logged |
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Bill H Posts: 31 |
posted 01-31-2002 12:22 AM
Michael Miller compiled two volumes, (from newspapers, property records, city directories and census records), titled ARTISANS and MERCHANTS OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA 1780-1820. I mention this because he includes the following entry for a F. Masi: MASI, F. - Teacher--music - Fairfax St. At Mrs. Arguelle's boarding house; 2/1820, F. Masi from Boston will open a vocal music school with instruction in organ, piano, flute, flageolet, French horn; 2/1820, will perform on the organ at St. Mary's Church; 3/1820, will conduct an orchestra concert at the City Hotel; 5/1820, opened a musical academy at the corner of Washington & Duke St.--taught singing in the Italian style, piano, violin, etc.; 6/1820, dancing assembly given at the City Hotel. If not the same F. Masi mentioned earlier, this one certainly has the potential to confuse research. IP: Logged |
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Fitzhugh Posts: 136 |
posted 01-31-2002 04:59 PM
I double checked my own notes, and there was a brother who was a silversmith (perhaps a retailer) in DC. As noted by another forum member above, the firm name was F. Masi & Co., headed by Frank Masi, and likely involved Seraphim to some degree, as evidenced by the sale of jewelry and personal property belonging to the firm for debts owed to Seraphim. I would tend to think the apparently short-lived Frank Masi & Co. retailed silver manufactured by Seraphim. An 1853 guide to DC listed both men (I think in residence ) on East North between 9th & 10th W. IP: Logged |
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Fitzhugh Posts: 136 |
posted 01-31-2002 05:02 PM
Also, the incised or intaglio mark for Frank reads as such, Frank Masi & Co., per a reference to a handled mug for sale once long ago in an dealer's catalog I saved. IP: Logged |
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bascall Posts: 1629 |
posted 06-17-2008 02:55 AM
Catherine, Frances, Charles, William and Edward are all listed in the 1850 U S Federal along with Seraphim and Catherine Masi who appear to be their parents. There is an F Masi in the 1830 U S Federal Census for Washington D C. IP: Logged |
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bascall Posts: 1629 |
posted 09-07-2009 12:46 AM
Francis Masi (Massie)is listed in the 1850 U S Federal Census for the District of Columbia. He was eighty years old at that time and was born in Italy. There is a fifty year old "V" Masi listed as head of household with Francis. V Massie was a jeweler. The Masi's were next door to the Galts. I have seen mention of F Masi & Co being manufacturers, and with court record of debts owed to the company by Seraphim, it is entirely reasonable that Seraphim who was thirty years younger than Frances sold his father's manufactured goods. Francis Masi is listed in U S Federal Census's for the District of Columbia as early as 1820. IP: Logged |
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bascall Posts: 1629 |
posted 02-15-2011 02:21 PM
Here is a well worn example of an F Masi & Co spoon: IP: Logged |
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