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Feather edge decoration

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Author	Topic: Feather edge decoration
argentum1 Posts: 602 Registered: Apr 2004	posted 04-29-2008 10:26 AM Can Feather edge decoration be assigned to a short period of usage, i.e. 1775 to 1787? I have run into a few pointed end spoons, marked for John Vogler, with feather edge decoration. I did not buy them as they were quite expensive but wish I had just to have examples. I am aware of styles/decoration being used after the generally accepted period of use. It is just that I have never seen Feather edging outside of the 18th century. The latest is possibly 1785. Thanks for any enlightenment. An added note: I thought possible overstrike by Vogler but there was no sign even under 10x magnification. The Vogler mark was the J Vogler mark. [This message has been edited by argentum1 (edited 04-29-2008).] [This message has been edited by argentum1 (edited 04-29-2008).] IP: Logged
swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 Registered: May 2003	posted 04-29-2008 01:40 PM Feather edging first appeared in England in the 1760's on Hanoverian and Old English spoons, and has been produced on and off ever since. An early example of this style is shown at the end of an earlier thread (rare form #2). I would agree that most American examples probably date from the 1770's and 80's, but it is often impossible to ascribe an exact year to a piece with no provenance - the best one can do is limit the range on any one piece by the working or life dates of the maker, and some who made this style continued to work into the 19th Century. [This message has been edited by swarter (edited 04-29-2008).] IP: Logged
ahwt Posts: 2334 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 04-29-2008 02:08 PM The only book I have that discusses John Vogler is Cutten’s “Silversmiths of North Carolina”. By this reference, Vogler moved to Salem in 1802 at age 19 and was taught the gunsmith trade by his uncle. He was still listed as a gunsmith in 1805, but by 1806 he was listed as a silversmith. Was he trained as a silversmith before he learned the gunsmith trade? Did silversmithing just follow his work as a gunsmith? Cutten indicates that he did not know who trained Vogler or when he was trained. None of this answers your question, but it would seem that by the time Vogler started making silver the design life of your spoon would have been considered long over. Does that mean that he did not make the spoon? That most likely is a question that will never be answered. I think these unanswered questions are a major part of the fun of collecting. IP: Logged
swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 Registered: May 2003	posted 04-29-2008 02:38 PM quote: it would seem that by the time Vogler started making silver the design life of your spoon would have been considered long over. Designs can often be traced to a beginning date, but once they have appeared, they can be made at any later time for any of several reasons (other than a revival), often many years beyond the fading of their popularity. Feathering is usually associated with the rounded end Old English style; I do not recall having seen it on an American pointed end spoon; such departures from the "norm" can appear after the popularity of (and/or familiarity with) the original form has passed. Was the mark attributed to Vogler his full name mark, which would be definitive, or one with initials only, which might not? I can see no reason why Vogler could not have made it, nor why the decoration could not have been original to this spoon, but can not be certain without actually seeing the spoon and the mark. IP: Logged
ahwt Posts: 2334 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 04-29-2008 03:17 PM That is a good point Swarter. Vogler may well have made reproductions of this design for various reasons. Perhaps one of his customers wanted such a spoon to replace some that were damaged or lost. IP: Logged
ahwt Posts: 2334 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 04-29-2008 03:17 PM That is a good point Swarter. Vogler may well have made reproductions of this design for various reasons. Perhaps one of his customers wanted such a spoon to replace some that were damaged or lost. IP: Logged
Brent Posts: 1507 Registered: May 99	posted 04-29-2008 05:34 PM Just a few days ago I saw a feather-edge bird-back teaspoon by Lewis & Smith of Philadelphia, with a contemporaneous engraved date of 1809. They were only in business together from about 1805 to 1811. So, although I agree that most feather-edge pieces in the US likley date from around 1780, there are no rules without an exception or two. On a related matter, I recall thinking at some point that feather-edge decoration was more common in New England, particularly the Boston area, than anywhere else in the colonies. What do others think? Brent IP: Logged
FredZ Posts: 1070 Registered: Jun 99	posted 04-29-2008 10:43 PM One of my prized pieces of flaware is a large spoon with feathered edge made by Johnathan Otis of Rhode Island. I also have a 20th century English stuffing spoon decorated with feathered edged handle. The decoration is made with a flat graver held carefully along the edge of the handle and then pushed forward while rolling it creating a sort of elongated "S" design this is repeated over and over along the perimeter of the handle. I had the good fortune of working at the bench next to an old Western engraver. Yell Newman was a modest man with an uncanny ability to make the cleanest strokes with the bright cut engraver. He made it look easy. Fred IP: Logged

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