posted 10-23-2005 12:07 PM            

Hello,

I purchased a very large lot of sterling & coin at a recent sale. I am learning about silver and starting to collect. I was very pleased with my purchase of a lot of spoons, approx. 60 different patterns, makers, great research and learning tool for me. I am inquiring about one large, 8.75 spoon simply marked “REVERE”. It has beautiful bright cut decoration. The problem with researching this spoon on the internet is that many manufacturers make reproduction Paul Revere items or souvenir and no period pieces to examine for comparison. In the Book of Old Silver it does show several makers marks for Paul Revere 1735-1818. They are very similar and difficult to differentiate from my very light hallmark. Also in the Collectors Dictionary of Silver & Gold, Clayton, it shows on page 280, Fig. XXVII a group of spoons (drawings, rear view) showing the shape of spoons from 1692-1815. The shape of my spoon is similar to the illustration dated 1769, which matches the time period for Revere. However, it says spoon size is 6.5 - 7.5 long. My spoon is longer. My question is can you recommend any books, sites or museums in the Maine area that show authentic Revere pieces? Also, I can only assume that many fakes exist. Does the bright cut decoration help in identifying whether this is authentic or could this be a later addition? Any suggestions to help aid me in further research would be greatly appreciated.

Michele

posted 10-23-2005 03:01 PM            

I took the liberty of cleaning up the original image a bit and putting it here for comparison.

If you have access to a copy of Kane's Colonial Massachusetts Silversmiths, you can see the numerous verified marks and a listing of the traced tea- and tablespoons. The length is no real guide or worry -- pieces range from 4.5 to 9.5 inches. The bright-cutting is not the most elegant, perhaps, but Revere was never a brilliant engraver and by the end of his career, he was jobbing out such work.

posted 10-23-2005 10:03 PM            

Welcome to the forum!

Can't help you verify the Revere authenticity, but If you do an online used book search you will find several sellers that have the Colonial Silversmiths of Massachuttes(sp) for sale, as well as online auctions.

Hope this helps.

Enjoy the day!

Jersey

posted 10-24-2005 09:51 AM            

One thought on learning about styles. A way of accumulating one’s own library of different styles is to use the saved search function on the popular internet auction and sales sites. Simply put in a term such as “bright cut” and see what happens. That term would pick up silver from a later era, but one could perhaps determine a more limiting term after a few hits.

[This message has been edited by ahwt (edited 10-24-2005).]

posted 10-24-2005 01:21 PM            

I have examined a number of photos of similarly decorated spoons, and without exception, they show an oval reserve subtended by a sharp-cornered shield-shaped device, rather than the round-topped one on this spoon. That said, a variety of designs were used on his spoons, and many could have been made and/or engraved by others (by this time in his career, he probably made little silver himself) -- apprentices, journeymen, or jobbers (he is known to have "farmed out" orders to other smiths).

It is always encouraging to find that one can still stumble on a desireable piece in this fashion. It should be worth the effort to follow up on.

posted 10-25-2005 12:22 AM            

(WEV's images taken from his post above

[Same as mark (b) in Buhler]

[Same as mark (d) in Buhler]

Another thing of interest (but of little significance) is that mark (d) in Buhler happens to show a defect from a similar "bounce" of the punch -- one might even go so far as to speculate (wildly) that the same person (an apprentice?) might have carelessly made both defective strikes with the same punch!

Reference: American Silver 1655-1825 in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston by Kathryn C. Buhler (1972). Vol. II, p. 385.

posted 10-25-2005 08:11 AM            

Swarter, I will also seek a copy of American Silver by Buhler. With positive feedback from so many, thank you, I am contemplating calling the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston to see if they are interested in taking a look. All of your information is so helpful. I would not of known where to even start in authenticating this spoon.

I think that I was able to purchase the large lots of mixed sterling flatware so cheaply (this spoon was in a lot of approx. 60 pieces that I purchased for $45) because all the silver dealers where fighting for the showy items, Tiffany charger, G. Jensen, Lg. Gorham Chantilly, etc. for big money, and overlooked the grouped lots. Hopefully it is authentic, if it is not, I am still thrilled with my purchase since I have many, many beautiful pieces of coin & sterling to research, many of which I will keep.

Thanks again for all of your assistance. I will keep you informed of my progress on this spoon!

Michele

posted 10-26-2005 11:55 AM            

There is only so much one can do with an internet photo - having an object in the hand for direct inspection by an expert who has personally handled a great many authentic and forged items is a must. There have been so many forgeries of Revere objects for so many years that an expertization in person is really needed.

posted 10-26-2005 03:36 PM            

Check for the other silver books the same way......I just found some on an online auction.

BTW Have you checked your library? If they do not have it perhaps you can request an inter-library loan.

Have a great day.
Jersey