Sheffield The discovery of the process used in the production of this ware was made by a Sheffield cutler, Thomas Boul sover (often misspelled Bolsover), in 1742. He found that a layer of silver could be welded to a copper plate by heat and pressure. He ap jears to have made only plated buttons and small ware. Joseph Hancock soon advanced the method into the making of table services and larger pieces. The silver fused to the base metal was standard 925 alloy. This early ware was plated only on one side; "double-plating° (on both sides) started some time between 1763 and 1770. To hide the central layer of copper exposed on the edge it was necessary to attach a border or edging. This edging was first produced by placing the copper sides of two pieces back to back and solder-tinning the edges (1755-85). Cadman then invented the system of soldering on a solid silver edging shaped to fit. The "edgings" of Sheffield plate are one of its chief characteristics. Starting with simple silver ware ("thread") edges or borders, by MO highly ornate, heavy, deep relief scroll work and bold designs became vogue. It is the renowned "Georgian" style. The fiat-chased large trays and salvers dating between 1815 and 1830 are probably (if in good condition) more prized than any other pieces of "Old Sheff' ware. From 1830 to 1840 is the "transition period" when German silver and other light colored alloys took the place of copper as a base. The enormous demand for fine Sheffield plate ware in the period is easily conceivable when we remember that the great difference in cost brought fine silver services within the reach of many thousands of the middle classes who had been using pewter and earthenware. The beauty of some of the elaborate creations brought about by the immense and profitable sales made the nobility and gentry converts to its prestige, even royalty took to the majestic Epergnes, tea and coffee "equipages" (consist ing of urns for hot water, tea and coffee) which were more attractive than any solid silverware ever before produced. But the brothers George and Henry Elkington, of Biriningham, invented a method of silver deposition on base metal by electric current. After patient perfection of their process they obtained, in 1840, a patent for the electro-plating process as done at this day. The extremely low price at which base metal pieces could be produced with a precious metal surface of any desired thickness quickly killed the Sheffield plate business and rapidly evolved a great industry.
Colonial Much early silver ware found in the New England States was im ported from France and England. But the sil versmiths of this country grew in number with the increase of wealth of the colonies. Boston and New York were the producers of most of this early American plate, but there were a num ber of workers in silver (strange to say, many of them were blacksmiths as is shown by con temporary documents) in Connecticut who did very fine workmanship in silver vessels as re cent displays of extant 17th and 18th century pieces prove. Philadelphia, Baltimore, Albany and Troy also boasted of their clever silver smiths in those days. Building up a historic out line from researches made recently we are ar riving at many interesting points on colonial sil ver ware and its makers. The earliest Connecti
cut silversmith recorded appears to be Job Prince of Milford (born about 1680, died about 1703) ; next comes Rene Grignon(Huguenot), who settled in Norwich before 1708. Daniel Deshon was Grignon's apprentice and went to New London. Cornelius Kierstead was a New Yorker but (about 1722) worked in New Haven, Hartford, New London, Norwalk and Water bury. John Hull (1624-83) was a wealthy Mas sachusetts silversmith and his ability is shown in existing communion cups in the First Church of Boston. He became "Mint master of Massa chusetts" and made silver money for local cir culation, the British coin being almost entirely absent. He set up (1652) a mint in Boston (dis regarding the English Crown's sole right to coin money). Hull got one shilling of every 20 coined. The "Pine-tree" shilling was coined for 30 years and Hull got so wealthy he became a banker as well as silversmith. 1DavidJesse worked in Boston early in the second half of the 17th century — a beaker of his dated 1672 is one of the oldest American pieces existing. Jeremiah Dummer (1645-1718) of Boston has left us a number of pieces. John Cony (1655 1722) also worked in Boston and had as ap prentice Apollos Rivoire, who came to Boston from Germany. He had a family of 12, of which the noted patriot Paul was third. The latter started work in his father's shop and was but 19 when his father died (1754). Paul Re vere's (the family name was changed) histori cal career is too well known to repeat here. Many of the Revere pieces exist; 65 pieces ap peared in one Boston exhibition (1906). Un fortunately there is little to prove which signed pieces belong to father or son. One very small salt has the inscription "The Illustrious Ninety Two," referring to the 92 members of the house of representatives of Massachusetts who refused their signatures for rescinding the circular letter sent to the sister colonies to all join action. Another piece of historic note is Revere's punch-bowl ordered by the 15 Sons of Liberty, their names. encircling its rim. We have the names of numerous New York silver smiths of early days but their wares have dis appeared. Other early silversmiths worth men tion are Beach, Ward, Sargeant, Pitkin and Rogers of Hartford, and Merriman, Gorham, Chittenden, Bradley and Brown of New Haven. By 1715 Connecticut citizens were wealthy enough to be buying coffee and chocolate pots, braziers (forerunners of our chafing dish), elaborate urn-shaped loving cups, porringers, patch boxes, snuff boxes, caudle cups, etc. The early pieces (17th century) were few and simple (both church and domestic), beautiful ware; gradually came the advance to more elaborate forms and a greater variety of articles. One cause of a reduced number of extant pieces was the early 19th century prohibition move ment which melted down drinking vessels to make spoons out of the metal. Modern Ameri can silverware holds its own to the present day compared with that of other lands as has been proven at many World's Fairs. The products of Tiffanys have shown many charming and original creations and the Gorham Company at its Providence shops has made a world-wide reputation with its martele style of ware. This style shows the hammer marks as so many facetted surfaces for lovely reflections.