| For centuries, household silver has indicated the | | | | name. He stood back of every article that left his |
| wealth of a family. It is only since about 1850, | | | | shop. Silver-making was highly specialized. |
| when the electroplating process was developed, | | | | But silver in its pure form was too soft to fashion |
| that flatware for the table and hollow-ware pieces | | | | alone so it had to be alloyed with a base metal in |
| have been priced within the budget of the | | | | order to harden it. The choice for the most |
| average family. But nineteenth-century plated | | | | compatible base metal was copper. Craftsman in |
| silver as well as pieces of early American and | | | | Easterling, England discovered that 75 parts |
| Federal silver are as good as money in the bank | | | | copper to 1000 parts of total weight produced |
| today. | | | | the following ideal qualities: strength, malleability |
| The history of American silver parallels the social | | | | and depth of color. After 1860, the word "sterling" |
| development of the country. The first silver used | | | | (short for Easterling) came into use. When |
| by the Colonists in New England was simple and | | | | stamped on a piece of silver, it guarantees that |
| useful, but as the country grew and prospered, | | | | the silver is .925 fine. The silversmith was an |
| the demand for more and finer pieces increased. | | | | important member of the community. It was to |
| By the time of the Revolution, wealthy Colonists | | | | his shop that the prosperous man took his coins |
| were living as graciously as their contemporaries in | | | | and had them melted down and fashioned into |
| England, and after we became a nation, the work | | | | household articles-spoons, tankards, and |
| of American silversmiths reached great heights, | | | | porringers. After melting the coins, the silversmith |
| which continued into the first quarter of the | | | | refined the metal, and poured it into a skillet to |
| nineteenth century. | | | | form a flat block of silver. The block was |
| Silversmiths found plenty of work to keep them | | | | hammered out to the desired thickness and |
| busy at their trade during Colonial days. Their | | | | worked into whatever article the patron ordered. |
| handiwork was not seen in the average | | | | Today most silver is made by machine but much |
| household, where similar articles were made of | | | | of it copies the good designs of the past. There |
| brass, iron, copper, pewter, or wood. However, | | | | are some craftsmen who still fashion silver by |
| for those fortunate enough to accumulate silver | | | | hand, but labor costs are so high that it's not cost |
| coins, the silversmith served as a sort of banker | | | | effective for mass distribution. But what about |
| and insurance agent too. He melted down the | | | | reproductions of old silver? Certainly there is good |
| coins, made household articles from them, and | | | | reproduction silver on the market. The best is |
| identified these pieces with the owner's | | | | faithfully copied from known old pieces by |
| monogram, crest, or coat of arms. Usually the | | | | important early makers. Some reproductions bear |
| silversmith's own mark was stamped somewhere | | | | the name of the modern maker and the name of |
| too. Nowadays, knives, forks and spoons are the | | | | the silversmith from whose work the design is |
| first silverware that most families invest in but in | | | | copied. There are some excellent copies of bowls, |
| Colonial days it was mugs, beakers, tankards, | | | | pitchers, and teapots from those made by Paul |
| candlesticks, and other useful household articles. | | | | Revere who, when not making midnight rides, |
| Covered cups, inkstands and snuffer stands, | | | | was considered one of the finest silversmiths in |
| sauce boats, salt containers, sugar boxes, | | | | Colonial New England. Next to having really old |
| creamers, bowls, tea kettles and teapots were | | | | pieces made by early craftsmen, an honest copy |
| other likely pieces. | | | | in high quality silver is desirable. |
| By the 1890's, every member of a family had his | | | | There are plenty of catalogues and internet |
| own napkin ring made of either sterling or plated | | | | websites picturing designs and pleasing patterns |
| silver. These were almost always identified with | | | | which have stood the test of time. The simple |
| an initial or monogram, usually placed within a | | | | thread pattern, the shell design, and the |
| garland or scroll. If the napkin ring had been a gift | | | | unornamented designs of the late eighteenth |
| on a birthday or some other special occasion, the | | | | century can be bought today. Few fancy patterns |
| date was often added, usually in script lettering. | | | | stay long in vogue and in after a few years it is |
| At about the same time that napkin rings became | | | | often impossible to add pieces to a fancy set. |
| a polite necessity, it became the custom to give | | | | Simple patterns, however, seem to last through |
| engraved cups or mugs with handles as gifts to | | | | the years. |
| newborn babies. | | | | Today some dealers in antique silver have added |
| The early silversmith learned his trade in every | | | | fine copies of old pieces to their stock. These |
| detail. He melted silver coins, rolled the resulting | | | | copies are marked as such and are for those |
| mass of silver into a flat piece, and then raised it | | | | who prefer old silver but do not want to pay the |
| with his hammers to some beautiful form. If he | | | | price for it. These copies make excellent gifts for |
| did not do all the work himself, he had at hand a | | | | weddings and christenings, and their quality is so |
| workman whom he had trained to do at least | | | | high that they become heirlooms of the future. |
| part of the process for him. But the master | | | | The internet makes it easy to find silver in all |
| craftsman required the finished product to be of | | | | categories. So if you are trying to build your own |
| such quality that he could be proud to put his | | | | collection or if you want to give a gift that will last |
| stamp upon each piece, either his initials or his | | | | a lifetime, you should consider silver. |