An Unusual J.W. Forbes Shell Spoon & Mark

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An Unusual J.W. Forbes Shell Spoon & Mark

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Author	Topic: An Unusual J.W. Forbes Shell Spoon & Mark
Brent Posts: 1507 Registered: May 99	posted 04-16-2006 04:28 PM The discussion of swaged shell handles in the "Some Spoons" thread led me to pull out this odd example. The style of shell on this tablespoon by John W. Forbes is quite unusual, though it does appear on some early threaded oval "Olive" type patterns. That said, I have never seen another spoon quite like this. As for the mark, the bust star and anchor are all commonly associated with Forbes marks, as per John McGrew. However, the hand is not recorded. It is probably a jobber or journeyman's mark, but Mr. McGrew records only two different hand marks on any American coin silver. All in all, a rather unusual piece. I would love to hear from anyone who has seen a similar shell on a piece of coin silver, or a hand mark like this one. Brent IP: Logged
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 Registered: Apr 99	posted 04-16-2006 05:21 PM As it happens, here is a matching salt spoon: The decoration is a simplified version of yours; the handle measures 1/2 inch across at the widest. IP: Logged
Brent Posts: 1507 Registered: May 99	posted 04-16-2006 07:06 PM Well, what do you know! Very similar indeed, though the shoulders on the tablespoon are sugarloaf, rather than the rounded ones on the salt. Probably the same journeyman, regardless! Brent IP: Logged
swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 Registered: May 2003	posted 04-16-2006 11:00 PM I think this is not a shell, but a leaf -- probably a lotus leaf, which has some form of symbolism, as do the other decorative devices similarly used. IP: Logged
outwest Posts: 390 Registered: Nov 2005	posted 04-20-2006 01:12 AM A little hand could have meant handmade and not a journeyman's mark at all. Your little spoons both look to be handmade. Also, it looks like IWF in both pictures and not JWF. I just can't see that J. [This message has been edited by outwest (edited 04-20-2006).] IP: Logged
agleopar Posts: 850 Registered: Jun 2004	posted 04-20-2006 06:52 AM Outwest we are all guessing until some one like John McGrew does the reserch and conects marks to a reason or person. All spoons were "hand made" then, so it is not likely that this is what it symbolized. The I was used for a J at that time... IP: Logged
akgdc Posts: 289 Registered: Sep 2001	posted 04-20-2006 08:13 AM The bust mark on these spoons appears to be a rare example of an American pseudohallmark based on a French prototype. It's even clearer in the following example, from an 1820s teapot. (I don't own the piece, but I have the owner's permission to post these images): Below it are the hallmarks on a French beaker (which I do own) by the prolific maker A.J.C.L. Berger, Paris, 1809-19. The bust mark on the teapot clearly seems to be imitating the bust on the beaker, with its distinctive tilt of the head, slope of the shoulders, "topknot" (or perhaps liberty cap?) coiffure, and side curls. The French mark is a mysterious one - usually described as some sort of Paris guild mark instituted during the Revolution (the date 1793 is mentioned by some sources) and retained during the Napoleonic years. The closest parallel I can think of to this is the pseudo-Minerve hallmark on New Orleans silver that was discussed at length elsewhere in these forums (though one does also see rooster pseudos on some coin silver). Interesting that it should appear in New York. Of course, America in the 1810s was under heavy French influence, culturally and politically (due to the on-again, off-again alliance against Britain), so it would make sense to imitate French silver here. IP: Logged

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