posted 10-12-2008 03:22 AM            

I saw a friend and great collector in Atlanta recently and he showed me one of his latest finds - the above strainer. The clip of the strainer is marked with the number 1716 and the initials AT within a rectangle. I could find no other markings on the strainer.

The initials AT appear to me to be very similar to the mark shown by Patricia E. Kane in her book "Colonial Massachusetts Silversmiths and Jewelers" for Andrew Tyler (see mark D on page 938). Mr Tyler was baptized in the Third (or Old South) Church, Boston, on 29 January 1692/93 and he died in the year 1741. In 1716 he would have been either 24 or 25 years old. Of the surviving objects examined by Ms. Kane only four used mark D and of those the earliest she dated the item so marked was 1730.

The pierced pattern is not quite centered in the bowl of the strainer, perhaps indicating that someone still learning their craft may have made the strainer. I suspect that the piercing is accomplished before the raising operation and that this may account for difficultly in centering the pattern on the finished bowl.

I have had little experience in examining early 18th century American silver (actually no experience) but it seems to me that the strainer handle contains design elements similar to the design elements in the handle on the Edward Winslow sugar box shown on page 64 of Patricia Kane's book. This sugar box is ca. 1702 and while Ms. Kane seems to suggest that by 1716 this design would no longer have been used by Boston silversmiths perhaps not all elements of the past would have been discarded by a young silversmith.

Ms. Fales in her book "Early American Silver" states that punch strainers were introduced into American silver in the mid-eighteenth century. Ian M. G. Quimby in his book "American Silver at Winterthur" shows two early or mid 18th century strainers - one ca. 1750 by Samuel and Thomas Edwards of Boston on page 102 and a second by Bartholomew Le Roux I on page 261 ca. 1730. If the above strainer was made by Andrew Tyler in 1716 it may be the first example of an American strainer.

posted 10-16-2008 09:58 PM            

The book “Silver of the Americas, 1600-2000 – American Silver in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston” edited by Jeannine Falino and Gerald W.R. Ward has the best explanation of the evolution of orange/punch strainers that I have found. Their explanation, at least in part, is based on an article by G. Bernard Hughes, entitled “Evolution of the Orange Strainer” published in Country Life (May 9, 1968). The editors note that orange strainers were used in England as early as 1533 and were used to catch the seeds of oranges as they were squeezed to produce juice for punch. It was the scarcity of oranges in England at this early date that may account for the special name given to this early form of strainer. The name evolved into punch strainer as time went by due to the popularity of this form of beverage, the increased availability of oranges and the use of other citrus fruits in punch.

Early strainers resembled large spoons with pierced bowls and had a hook opposite the handle for securing the strainer to one side of a punch bowl. The oranges were squeezed over the strainer thereby allowing the juice to flow into the bowl while collecting the seeds in the strainer. As time went by two handle strainers were made to allow the strainer to rest on the punch bowl rim. Most bowls were pierced with a simple pattern of holes, but the piercing evolved into elaborately pierced decorative patterns. The authors suggest that the more decorative strainers were an enjoyment to the guests as they were waiting to be served. What better way to emphasize the ceremonial nature of serving punch.

I suspect that the hook version was used mostly on silver bowls. When used on ceramic bowls the hook could cause serious damage if too much pressure was placed on the strainer. Perhaps the general use of ceramic bowls by the mid 1700s was another reason for the switch to two handles. The strainer could then be rested on the rim of the bowl without fear of damage to the bowl. Orange/punch strainers fell out of fashion in the late 18th century and wine funnels were used instead in the preparation of punch.

Below are two strainers shown in the book “The Albert Collection” by Robin Butler. Seven strainers are shown in this book (by far the most I found in any book) and two of them have a hook to allow hanging or resting one end on the rim of a bowl. The first has the makers mark for Epaphroditus Fowler, but no hallmarks. Robin Butler places this strainer as c. 1710. The second strainer has London assay marks and is from 1762. The makers mark WC is struck over another mark. This one is the only strainer, in the books I have, that has an oval bowl – as does the “AT strainer”. The oval bowl used in this strainer is certainly support that the “AT strainer” started its life as a strainer and was not converted from another object. Also the late date of 1762 would indicate that strainers with hooks did not disappear and is evidence that use of a hook does not necessarily date the strainer.

posted 05-17-2021 04:52 PM            

This strainer, because of it rimmed base and small handle, would most likely fit in Michael’s section on the “conversions from another use”. I did not see one lemon strainer that had rimed base in his book, but this type of base was often used on quaiches from Scotland. The single handle on this piece also does not appear to be like those used on lemon strainers as it really seems too small for that grouping. It is true that quaiches normally started with two handles, but the hook may simple be a replacement for a damaged handle.

I think this strainer marked with the letters AT could well have started as a drinking vessel and been converted to a strainer. If it was converted because of damage I would today call it a “make do” and that category for some collectors often adds value.