The History of America’s Relationship with Silver
Freeman’s American Furniture, Folk and Decorative Arts department continually offers a wide array of American silver at auction—from Pilgrim-era items to Classical presentation pieces memorializing naval feats to late-19th-century tea and flatware services designed for entertaining.
Here, we look at silver’s place in the timeline of American history, and why so many of the works still hold contemporary appeal.
Early American Examples
To this day, American silver continues to dazzle and delight collectors; beyond its pleasing tactile qualities, silver also demonstrates characteristics that tell the story of both the maker and for whom it was made. American silversmiths marked their wares—much like their European counterparts—with a hallmark that indicates its maker or company, and in some cases with other associated marks. The silver objects presented by Freeman’s illustrate a few other key elements beyond maker identification that silver connoisseurs seek while assembling their collections: variety of forms, historical relevance, and attention to surface detail.
Some of the earliest works featured in American Furniture, Folk and Decorative Arts auctions represent a number of New England makers and come from a private New Jersey collection. Considered to be the first native-born New England silversmith, Jeremiah Dummer (1645–1718) created tablewares for early settlers of Boston and Massachusetts. Among Dummer’s historically significant creations are a caudle cup and an elegant tablespoon.
Dummer’s successor and mentee John Coney (1655–1722) crafted a silver beaker and sucket fork, both considered rare forms. The fact of the beaker’s survival is astonishing, both because of its condition over the centuries as well as its previous ownership: the inscription reveals that it was owned by William Browne (1608–1687/88), a prominent Salem resident who was active as a judge, merchant, and benefactor to Harvard College. Likely donated to his local parish upon his death, Browne’s gift ensured the beaker’s survival; traditionally, silver is frequently melted down and repurposed to create new objects. This beaker, on the other hand, was loved and cherished, and is now a small but significant piece of American history.
Philadelphia's Silversmithing Legacy
Moving south from New England and New York, Philadelphia boasts a rich history of silversmithing. A coffeepot created by William Hollingshead (1728–1808) is a fine example, featuring Rococo details including an intricate cartouche, while the body exhibits an elegant restraint.
A dish cross made by David Hall (1767–1814) of nearby Lancaster is a form more often seen in English silver and rarely encountered in American examples; it is engraved with the names of the original owners, John Houston and Susanna Wright Houston, who lived in Lancaster County. The dish cross signifies the importance of familial associations, and the legacy of the Houstons can still be felt in Philadelphia today—America’s first student union, Houston Hall, was named after a descendant of John and Susanna in the late 19th century.
Customized Works
During the latter half of the 19th century, silver was produced to satisfy the entertaining ambitions of clients. Engraved monograms from this period are common, as patrons wanted to customize commissioned works. These customizations were often made to objects intended as wedding gifts for a family member, but some engravings were made for more solemn reasons. A presentation cann made during the Classical era memorializes the bravery of Joshua Knight, who rescued four sailors from the Sea Fox, which wrecked on October 30, 1821.
Beyond gifts and decorative works, many silver objects were intended for daily use: Tiffany & Co. and Gorham Manufacturing Company produced some of the highest quality items for household use, paying specific attention to a diversity of designs and new patterns influenced by revival styles. A Gorham flatware service in the “Mythologique” pattern, for instance, was meant both to be functional and to impress with the fantastical figural scenes found on the handles. Inspired by Greek mythology, the flatware’s added a level of sophistication to the dinner table—as would a five-piece Tiffany & Co. tea and coffee service in the “Ivy” pattern.