posted 07-25-2000 12:39 PM            

Special Features
The 1850's marked a new era in American silver manufacture - an era in which America finally broke with England and created its' own stamped patterns. One of the earliest revolutionaries was Albert Coles of New York who brought out five distinctly different patterns in 1850, the first being "Jenny Lind". Jenny Lind was quite a celebrity singer of the time being known as the "Swedish Nightingale". In 1850, P.T. Barnum brought her to America to perform for the first time for the then unheard of payment of $150,000.

Dating
Cole produced silver from 1850 to approximately 1876 when he sold out to Shiebler. Shiebler is said to have continued to produce Coles patterns, but he was always very good about putting his mark on all his patterns and I have never seen Jenny Lind with a Shiebler mark.

Pieces Available
Pieces Available (L to R)
item...................size..................Our cost......Notes
Teaspoon............6 1/8"...............$22.00.........Coles mark
Dessert Spoon.......7 1/4"...............$15.00...... Other Mark
Tablespoon...........8 1/2"...............$50.00....... No Mark
Dinner Fork..........7 7/8"...............$32.00...... Coles Mark
Dessert Fork.........7 " ................$32.00...... Retailer

You will note that the prices are very modest indeed for these beautiful and historical pieces.

Photo:

Key Pieces
The pieces shown are all readily obtainable. I have not seen a pastry, fish or salad fork but I can hope,

Comments
Coles Jenny Lind became one of the most popular patterns of the era, and as was common in the pre patent days there were imitations. Coles mark is shown here


The dessert spoon which appears to be identical in every way has the mark of another maker which I can't discern.

If you will look closely at the group photo you will see that the tablespoon is not Jenny at all but an attractive imposter (left) which has no marks.

I have also seen pieces with only a retailers mark.

You will note from the photos that all of the monograms are on the front of the stems on both the spoons and forks. This indicates that by this time the Americans had deviated from the English practice of fork tips down and both fork tips and spoon bowls were pointed up when placed on the table.

posted 08-02-2000 06:32 PM            

I enhanced the photo which shows the imposter. I have seen close copies of JL, most often they have been English.

posted 08-24-2000 06:31 PM            

D. Albert Soeffing states that Charles C. Shaver had a successful design similar to Jenny Lind. Here is a Shaver marked fork in the "Faux Jenny Lind" pattern.