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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 American Silver before sterling
 William Adams, New York
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| Author | Topic: William Adams, New York |
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farare Posts: 4 |
posted 02-10-2005 01:26 PM
  
I am the curator of the House of Representatives, and I'm looking for some guidance in researching William Adams, 185 Church St, a New York silversmith who made the House's mace in 1841-42. A month ago, I had received such wonderful help from the forum in my research on Jacob Leonard that I am so bold as to turn to you again. I know nothing of him and hope to learn more. IP: Logged |
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nihontochicken Posts: 289 |
posted 02-10-2005 03:29 PM
Per Ensko IV, William L. Adams began silversmithing about 1831, at 620 Greenwich St., NYC, then to 10 Elm St. in 1835. Indicates he was a noted politician, Pres. of Board of Aldermen 1842-43. Moved to Troy, NY, 1844-50. Mark was "W.ADAMS" and "NEW.YORK" (pellet, not period, in the latter), both marks in rectangular milled border. I'm sure others have more than this, just a starter. IP: Logged |
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labarbedor Posts: 353 |
posted 02-10-2005 05:20 PM
According to Paul von Khrum's "Silversmiths of New York City":1829,687 Washington, 1830 Greenwich: not lited in 1831;1832-33 134 Church;1834, 179 Church;1835,103 Elm;1836-37, 113 Elm;1838-1844/1845 185 Church; 1846/1847-1448/1849, 198 Chatham. Silversmith. President Board of Aldermen, New York City 1842-1843/ MCNY: working until 1850. IP: Logged |
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labarbedor Posts: 353 |
posted 02-10-2005 05:36 PM
I should mention that I believe in the Magazine Antiques at least 15 years ago there was an article on the silver in the House of Representatives. IP: Logged |
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akgdc Posts: 289 |
posted 02-10-2005 06:17 PM
What kind of documentation is there (if any) that Adams actually made the mace himself, rather than just orchestrating the commission? Like many NYC silversmiths of that period, he was probably as much (or more) of a retailer than a maker. I suspect that the House's award of the commission to him was a political decision more than an artistic one (though it is a splendid work). Labarbedor, I believe the mace actually appeared on the cover of Antiques, closer to 25 years ago than 15. I have it at home and will dig that issue out. IP: Logged |
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wev Moderator Posts: 4121 |
posted 02-10-2005 08:12 PM
Exerped from the entry inElegant Plate: William Adams was born in 1802 in Albany NY. He apprenticed there to a French maker, Pierre Chicotree (possibly Peter Chitry), who died soon after, his widow becoming Adams' wife. He was diligent in establishing his trade and built up a nice nest egg which he invested in real estate speculations. He became, in the words of an 1848 reporter, "Immensely Rich," but continued working as a silversmith. His work won numerous awards and important commissions, including a presentation urn to be given to his friend, Henry Clay. The 1855 city report on manufacturing listed his shop as using $10,000 worth of silver per year, utilizing steam powered stamping equipment, and employing five men and three boys. The New York Evening Post reported his death in June 1861. His tools and shop were left to his partner, Edmund Kidney. IP: Logged |
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akgdc Posts: 289 |
posted 02-10-2005 08:58 PM
That presentation urn for Henry Clay was, of course, to reward the latter's sponsorship in Congress of the 1842 law imposing a 40% tariff on imported silver. Methinks I hear the familiar Washington sound of one hand washing the other .... IP: Logged |
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akgdc Posts: 289 |
posted 02-11-2005 09:55 AM
A detail of the mace appears on the cover of the July 1975 issue of Antiques. On pages 76-77 is an article by Joan Sayers Brown, "William Adams and the Mace of the United States House of Representatives." Brown notes that there have been three Congressional maces. The first, of which no description survives, was destroyed when the British burned Washington in 1814. Its replacement for the next 27 years was a painted wooden mace. Then in 1841, the Speaker of the House ordered a mace from Adams "similar to the one distroyed by fire in the year 1814." Adams was to receive $400 for the commission. However, Brown says, "how Adams was paid remains a mystery, for there is no canceled check made out to him despite the fact that all contingent funds of the House were paid by check. Moreover, other canceled checks for the years 1841 and 1842 are filed in perfect order in the National Archives." The New York City directories list Adams as a silversmith from 1829 through 1862, according to the article. At the time of the mace commission his shop was at 185 Church St and his home at 179 Church. In the 1850 Census he is listed as a 49-year old with real estate valued at $15,000. His wife, Elizabeth, was 55, and the household included eight other members. (Three of these were teenage boys - John Slifer, David Decker, George Waterbury - whose occupations were listed as "silversmith"; the other five were also apparently servants or apprentices). The Congressional mace has a shaft of 13 ebony rods laced by four flat silver thongs. At the top, a magnificent solid silver eagle with a 15-inch wingspan perches atop a silver globe on which the continents are carefully engraved. (The Western Hemisphere faces forward.) The butt end of the mace is enclosed in a silver cuff embossed with foliate scrolls and floral decoration, with die-rolled floral borders. A cursive inscription in the rococo cartouche reads "Wm Adams/ Manufacturer/ New York/ 1841." The mace bears no impressed marks and no other inscription. It is 46 inches long. [This message has been edited by akgdc (edited 02-11-2005).] IP: Logged |
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farare Posts: 4 |
posted 02-11-2005 10:32 AM
Thanks for all your information. As to the question of how he was paid, the Statement of Expenditures does say that he was paid $400 and on 12/30/1841 Adams signed a receipt for payment in full of $400 for "a silver made surmounted with ah globe and spread eagle." It was first used on 12/29/1841. The question of whether Adams made or brokered the making of the mace is mighty interesting. Certainly, commissions were oftn politically influenced and Adams subsquent foray into politics indicates that he was hanging out with the politicos. The eagle is a remarkable piece of work, and would have required a master of the art to cast it successfully. Does anyone know of other identified works of Adams and their locations? For instance, where is that Henry Clay bowl? Again, thanks! IP: Logged |
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wev Moderator Posts: 4121 |
posted 02-11-2005 11:05 AM
The Museum of the City of New York has a dozen pieces, including a number of presentation cups. No indication of where the Clay urn may be; still in the family? IP: Logged |
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labarbedor Posts: 353 |
posted 02-11-2005 11:51 AM
Several references Hood being one show pictures of the Croton Aquaduct pitcher and goblets. The picture was supplied by the Museum of the City of New York. Elegant Plate doesn't show or mention it, so I guess it must have been a loan. The Museum should have some records. IP: Logged |
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akgdc Posts: 289 |
posted 02-11-2005 05:04 PM
The Clay presentation urn is in the collection of the Henry Clay Memorial Foundation, which runs Ashland, his old Kentucky home. It was also displayed a few years ago in the Metropolitan Museum's "Art in the Empire City" exhibition. IP: Logged |
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mdhavey Posts: 164 |
posted 09-03-2006 11:24 PM
In researching a fine, heavy (96 oz) repoussé 4-piece tea set by William Adams I came across this thread. I will post a photo when I get my broken camera back from the shop, but my question is: this tea set has intentional darkening of the shadow areas around the repoussé and chasing, almost as if someone with a very fine brush went in with carbon black. I've seen similar work on flatware (generally called black tipt) but not on large holloware articles--maybe it's usually been polished off over the centuries. Anybody can clue me in... IP: Logged |
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bascall Posts: 1629 |
posted 05-31-2008 12:30 PM
This is an old thread. In September of 1830 in New York City there were two silversmiths at Greenwich and Leroy, William Adams and Samuel C Neilson. [This message has been edited by bascall (edited 05-31-2008).] IP: Logged |
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