• Silver Resources •

• Silver Price Guide • Silver Appraisers • Silver Identification • Silver Dealers & Auction Houses • Silver & Its Uses • Monogrammed Flatware • Engravers • Museums • Newsgroups • Organizations • Silver Periodicals • Restoration Specialists by Medium • Other Sites of Interest

Silver Price Guide • Kovels On-line Price Guide Silver Appraisers • American Society of Appraisers 555 Herndon Parkway, Suite 125 Herndon, VA 20170 703/478-2228, Fax: 703/742-8471, • Appraisers Association of America, Inc. 386 Park Ave. South, Suite 2000 New York, NY 10016 212/889-5404, Fax: 212/889-5503, • International Society of Appraisers 1131 SW 7th St., Suite 105 Renton, WA 98055 206/241-0359, Fax: 206/241-0436, • Match Safe Appraisals Neil Shapiro is an avid match safe collector and member of the International Match Safe Association. He offers free appraisals and research including names of makers or manufacturers, history, or materials of a particular match safe. If he can't help I will refer you to someone who can. Silver Identification • American Silver Companies Gorham (division of Lenox), 800/446-7426 Samuel J. Hough is the Gorham archivist at Brown University's John Hay Library. He is THE expert on Gorham's history and product line. A review of his CD The Gorham Design Library can be found here. Mr. Hough can be contacted at The Owl at the Bridge, 25 Berwick Ln., Cranston, RI 02905-3708, 401/467-7362, . International (division of Syratech), 617/561-2200 Lunt flatware index Reed & Barton, 800/343-1383 Stieff Scott Perkins built the best resource for anyone researching Stieff's history and product identification. There is also a small section on Schofield Silver Towle (division of Syratech), 617/561-2200 Wallace (division of Syratech), 617/561-2200 • American Silversmiths by Willian Erik Voss This is a single occupation/single tree study of American silversmiths. It links together, by blood or marriage, more than 1000 makers as far ranging as Robert Sanderson, working in Boston c.1640, to William Herbert Thurber who saw his family's company, Tilden-Thurber of Providence, Rhode Island, into the 20th century. In addition, Voss has included information on related pewtersmiths, clockmakers, artists, and metal engravers when available. This reference for collectors contains 3,853 silversmiths, jewelers, watchmakers, and other related craftsmen included in my larger family project, American Silversmiths. • American Silver Marks I (Silversmiths & Silver Companies) Extensive listing of silversmiths and manufacturers' housemarks. Also rarely seen Baltimore assay marks. • American Silver Marks II (Silversmiths & Silver Companies) Housemarks from manufacturers and retailers of sterling silver, coin silver, and silverplate. • American Arts & Crafts Makers' Marks An educational, research-oriented site on Arts & Crafts silver.  The site contains numerous examples, hundreds of silver marks, bibliographies, and silver resources such as old catalogs, and the full text and photos from silver articles that appeared in early 20th century publications. • Baltimore Assay Marks The only time and place in the U.S. where hallmarks were required on silver. • Chinese Silver A site dedicated to Chinese export silver. • Detecting Modified Silver and Silverplated Flatware Gain knowledge about modified flatware items that have been altered to make it appear to be a more valuable, rare or unusual piece. • Flatware Pattern Guide (Sterling, Coin, Silverplate, White Metal) If you know what company made your flatware, but don't know the pattern's name, you may find it in this beautifully illustrated guide. • Flatware Utensil Guide Do you know the difference between a sugar scoop and a sugar shovel? No? This is a great guide to identify what you've been using all these years. • Museum of Fine Arts Silver Collection Search The MFA offers a fantastic view into their magnificent silver collection with discriptions of each piece • Online Encyclopedia of Silver Marks, Hallmarks, & Makers' Marks Outstanding compendium of silver marks from around the world. • Archived information on the following Connecticut companies: International, Meriden Brittania Co., Rogers Bros., Wilcox Silver Plate Co., Wm. Rogers Contact: lan Weathers, Meriden Historical Society, Records Center, 1090 Hanover Rd., S. Meriden, CT 06450, 203/639-1913. Hours: Wednesdays 2:00-4:30 pm. • Sheffield Fused Plate A very rare resource for these tough to find marks. • Silver Hallmarks From Around the World Not as well organized as the Online Encyclopedia, but still an excellent resource. What you don't find on one Web site, you may find on the other. • William Spratling Silver A great Web site with information on Mexico's most famous silversmith, William Spratling. Silver Dealers & Auction Houses • A.B. Levy 211 Worth Ave. Palm Beach, FL 33480 561/835-9139 • Greenwald Antiques 3096 Mayfield Rd. Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 216/932-5535 • As You Like It Silver Shop 3033 Magazine St. New Orleans, LA 70115 800/828-2311 • Heritage Auction Galleries 1518 Slocum St. Dallas, TX 75207 800/872-6467 • Beverly Bremer Silver Shop 3164 Peachtree Rd. N.E. Atlanta, GA 30305 800/270-4009  • M. Ford Creech Antiques 581 South Perkins Rd. Memphis, TN 38117 901/761-1163  • Carman's Collectables PO Box 258 Levittown, PA 19059 215/946-9315  • Laurie Ackerman PO Box 373 Swansea, MA 02777 508/675-4889, Cell: 508/277-9942 • Christie's 20 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10020 212/636-2000 • Reliable Gold 81 Wayland Ave. Providence, RI 02906 401/861-1414  • Drucker Antiques, Inc. 487 East Main Street, Ste. 197 Mount Kisco, NY 10549 914/923-4560 • Sotheby's 1334 York Ave. New York, NY 10021 800/813-5968 Silver & Its Uses • Kitco, Inc. - Precious Metal Price Updates Gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and rhodium prices updated every 10 minutes. • The Silver Institute This Web site contains facts and descriptions of the uses of silver and its role in the economy and in our daily lives. Monogrammed Flatware • Silver Monogram Finds This is vintage silver with monograms, some of it is well over 100 years old. This silver is not new, but has been used and loved. A greast resource! Engravers • Bentley Hand Engraving George Bentley's engraving has beautiful flowing lines with an amazing attention to detail and precision. George is also a commissioned goldsmith and industrial designer. Visit his Web site for examples of his work. Renaissance Gallery & Studios, 12180 HWY 42,  Ellison Bay, WI 54210, 920/854-2787, computer/voice mail: 920/785-0898, cell: 434/854-2787, • Rose Duke Rose has been involved in hand engraving since 1979, having worked for the Kirk Stieff Silver Company & J. Jenkins & Son Emblematic Jewelry. She does all types of precious metal engraving on flatware, holloware, trophies, and jewelry. Her repertoire includes lettering, ornamental work, and crest & seal work. She also does bright cutting, having started out as one of Stieff's Lady Claire & Betsy Patterson flatware engravers. Talisman Design Diverse Arts, Baltimore, Maryland 21211, 410/243-2454, • William Gaskin Engraving Outstanding hand & machine engraving. Bill engraves the 14k gold Kentucky Derby Trophy each year! 29 Bonneau St., North Attleboro, MA 02760, 508/699-4758. • Cynthia Sims Kirkland Creator of fine "master quality" designs for the hand and machine engraver. Though not an engraver, herself, Cynthia has been a professional illustrator for nearly thirty years. She can create highly detailed designs for engraving on holloware, flatware, jewelry, cutlery, etc. As well as beautifully executed names, monograms, ciphers, and initials, her work includes engraveable line illustrations of portraits and pets, scenery and display images for presentations and awards, recreating company and corporate logos, and an exclusive line of elaborately detailed Coats of Arms and Crests, which she researches herself. Graphics can be provided as digital files to upload to the latest engraving machines. Very reasonable prices quoted per "project." 10428 CR 2332, Terrell, TX 75160, 972/524-8578, Fax also available (call first) • J.C. Randell J.C. specializes in the ornamentation of the Jaeger-LeCoultre "Reverso". He also adorns other objects requiring fine and highly detailed decoration. 5006 N. Bannen Rd., Spokane, WA 99216 509/891-5115, Museums • Paul Revere House Visit this site to find out more about the most famous American Silversmith. Of equal interest is Paul Revere's family tree. • Souvenir Spoon Museum Examples of silver spoons from around the world with commentaries. • Major Silver Collections (an abbreviated list) Chrysler Museum of Art, USA Cleveland Museum of Art, USA Dallas Museum of Art, USA The Goldsmiths' Company, England Historic Deerfield, USA J.Paul Getty Museum, USA Kremlin Museums, Russia Metropolitan Museum of Art, USA Milwaukee Art Museum, USA Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, USA Museum of the City of New York, USA Philadelphia Museum of Art, USA Rhode Island School of Design Museum, USA Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute, USA Victoria & Albert Museum, England Winterthur, USA Worcester Art Museum, USA Yale University Art Gallery, USA Metal Newsgroups • rec.crafts.metalworking A discussion group dealing with metalworking subjects. • sci.engr.metallurgy A discussion group dealing with the technical aspects of metal. Organizations • The ArtMetal Project The ArtMetal Project is a non-profit volunteer venture of a group of metalsmiths and organizations. It aims to disseminate information about various aspects of artistic metalworking and to provide a forum for artists and art lovers to experience this outstanding medium. • Ganoksin The gem and jewelry world's foremost information resource on the Internet. Silver Periodicals • The Eden Sterling Company Publishers of The Historical Catalogue Series. This is a series of seven professionally reprinted silver trade catalogues from the late 19th century and early 20th century. See Scott V. Martin's review of Eden's Unger Bros. catalog here. • Silver Magazine The only publication specializing in the entire field of silver, featuring the finest in research pertaining to the world of silver, with articles on primarily antique English, Continental, and Colonial American silver. • SM Publishers Publishers of The Book of Silver, Flatware Silver Marks & Patterns, and The Guide to Evaluating Gold & Silver Objects. Restoration Specialists By Medium • Ceramic Restoration & Conservation: Bradshaw and Whelan Firm specializing in 18th century and earlier British, Continental and Oriental porcelain and pottery. • Cookware Restoration: Atlantic Retinning Copper heats evenly, cools quickly, and will last forever. However, copper cookware must be lined with tin, and that wears out. Atlantic Retinning restores fine cookware for The Russian Tea Room, Georg Jensen, and Williams Sonoma. • Enamel Restoration: Rosanna Polizzotto Rosanna has a BFA in painting and attended the Art Students League and The School of Visual Arts in New York City.  You will not be able to see the repair with the naked eye and in most cases with a ten power loupe. All enameling is done with a conservators approach using a cold technique which preserves the original work. • Furniture Restoration & Conservation: Jonathan Looper Jonathan works with private collectors and antique dealers from around the country offering a full range of services from preserving original finishes and patinas to complete reconstruction. Jonathan has an intimate knowledge of furniture from understanding how wood ages to maintaining the quirky construction techniques found on early vernacular furniture, both English and American. • Gilding Restoration: Reed’s Gold Leaf Studios Micki and her husband Mitchell provide gilding and restoration services. Their work can be seen all around the Southeastern United States in various galleries, museums, historic homes, universities, and private collections. They are long-time members of the prestigious “Society of Gilders” of which Micki currently serves as Vice-President. Both are well-respected educators in the art of restoration and gilding. • Glass Restoration: Michael Bokrosh Michael Bokrosh Glass Sculpture Studio finds innovative ways to repair and restore your antique glass & glass art sculptures so that the collector can once again appreciate the beauty and design the original artist had intended. He specializes in Murano glass repair, as well as Waterford, Lalique, Daum, Kosta Boda, Orrefors, Stueben, and all contemporary glass artists. Bokrosh also creates his own glass sculptures using optical glass – some of the finest glass in the world. • Niello Restoration: David L. Huffman Studios David has worked with niello since he learned the technique from Professor Fike back in the early 70's, and has applied it to fabricated and cast jewelry articles as well as vessels, watch cases, etc., working in both silver and gold alloys. He makes his own niello from silver, lead, copper and sulfur which is a deep blue-black and able to take a high polish. He has experience in the most challenging applications such as round and spherical objects and areas where the application is in very shallow relief. 26 Main St., Cortland, NY 13045, 607/756-0551. • Paper Restoration & Conservation: McGannon Studios Offering complete museum quality conservation and restoration of paper artifacts. The wide array of works on paper that can be preserved include prints, drawings, watercolors, maps, pastels, historical and personal documents and paper memorabilia. • Tortoiseshell Restoration: Coromandel Antique Restoration Specialists in high quality antique box, tea caddy, and tortoiseshell restoration in the UK. They restore and repair a wide range of small antiques and collectibles, particularly those made from or decorated with tortoiseshell, ivory, bone, mother of pearl, horn, shibayama, rosewood, ebony, and other specialty woods.   Other Sites of Interest • Restoration Terminology & Definitions Prepared by Professional Restorers International, this glossary has a wealth of information  pertaining to the restorers' field. • Professional Restorers International The PRI web site is a directory of professional restorers, refinishers, and conservators. Each PRI member has an informative page with outline of their services. Through a search of these member pages, a prospective client can find the appropriate person for their project. • How to Clean Coins If the coins you would like to clean are collectible or valuable, restoring them will almost always reduce their value — sometimes by as much as 90% — and cleaning won’t improve their grading (the standards used by coin collectors and dealers to evaluate a coin), so you should usually let them be. If, however, you’ve just got some old coins around that aren’t worth much more than their face value, but which you would still like to make more presentable, try the techniques on this site. • Costume Jewelry Designers & Company Information • Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry A great glossary on jewelry terms. • Feigon Hamilton A consulting and staffing firm comprised of a variety of professionals who synergistically offer their knowledge and experience in the art of private household service. They provide information and training that enables estates and households to work like an empowered organization that supports all of its participants: family, household staff and service providers. • The International Institute of Modern Butlers Butlers and Household Managers have traditionally been responsible for looking after the silver (from the flatware to any silver art pieces) in the households they serve. As a consequence, the silversmith often maintained a close working relationship with butlers - and vice versa. That tradition continues to this day and I, too, am associated with the butler profession via the International Institute of Modern Butlers.

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