posted 08-28-2007 04:48 PM            

Hi,

I am trying to find out about a piece of silver given to me by my father.

It was made in Cork in 1928 between July and September. Its a cream jug (I think) and has been 'hallmarked' with the initials WE a castle a ship and a 2nd castle.

I have a letter from Barry Egan written in 1972, telling the story of how this came about and a list of the pieces made and who owned them. Does anyone know anything about this 'Republican' silver?

posted 08-28-2007 07:12 PM            

Your jug sounds like it has an interesting background. I am sure people here would like to hear some details about the story that goes with it. More often than not such stories have been changed partially or completely over the years in their re-tellings from one person to the next, but sometimes they come close to the facts or even are completely accurate. Letting people here know what the story that came with this one was would be a starting point for people to try to determine what your jug might be.

posted 08-29-2007 10:08 AM            

As Kimo suggests,the story would be most interesting.

posted 08-29-2007 10:15 AM            

Here is a brief history of Cork Republican silver. Egan's Silversmiths and Jewelers were in business in Cork from the 1820's to 1986. During the Civil War of 1922, Cork was occupied by "anti-treaty" IRA forces, who opposed the structure of the Irish Free State created in the Anglo-Irish Treaty signed at the end of 1921. During the several month occupation during the summer and fall of 1922, access to roads and railways were cut off, so silver pieces could not be sent to Dublin for assay marks. Egans created a special mark for silver manufactured during this time, and it is as you have described: a WE, a two masted ship and single tower castles on either side.

These pieces are very rare; I have seen one estimate that only 60 such pieces were made. I have only seen such pieces in the Crawford Municipal Gallery in Cork.

posted 08-29-2007 01:18 PM            

Thanks for your interest, I believe my father bought the jug in Burlington Arcade in the early 1970's , he obviously did some research because I have a letter from Barry Egan and a list of the items they made and who owned them, including ' HRH Princess Mary a Pair of Fruit dishes' and quite a lot of something called a 'Potato Ring'?

I apologize for the mistake in the date it says they were made between July and September of 1922. I will try and scan the letter in as well.

posted 09-04-2007 11:29 AM            

I don't know for sure if this gives a image about what you mean? This one is made by William Plummer, about 12 inches wide, made in 1764. Of course it's not mine, but when I've read your reaction I thought that I had seen it somewhere, so I found it.

It's a interesting story about Cork silver.