The Book of Old Silver: English, American, Foreign - Hardcover

Wyler, Seymour B.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1620872110 ISBN 13: 9781620872116

Publisher: Skyhorse, 2013

Synopsis

The art of silversmithing dates back to centuries ago, and its history is an interesting and intricate one, but even Old Silver connoisseurs aren’t familiar with all of the customs, laws, regulations, and fashions of the past. First published in 1937, The Book of Old Silver thoroughly chronicles the fascinating history of the art of this precious metal, starting in England, which produced more fine silver than any other country and ignited the craft’s greatest flowering.  

Did you know the word “Sterling” originates from a band of immigrant Germans, the Easterlings, who were called on by King John in 1300 to refine the metal to make English coins? Or that the English government regulated the stamping of silver by law, and later punished the marking of inferior pieces with the sterling hallmark by death? Seymour B. Wyler follows the history of various types of silver pieces, including tea services, drinking articles, condiment sets, tableware, lighting appliances, and furniture, and details the history of silver in various parts of the United Kingdom, America, and Europe.  

Along with the history and traditions, Wyler provides instructions on how to properly care for and clean Old Silver, details how to identify antique pieces, and provides tables and illustrations of various silversmiths’ marks. Including photographs of antiques dating back to the sixteenth century, this book is a must-have for every silver collector.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

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From the Inside Flap:

A history and guide to Old Silver and Old Sheffield Plate, with the most comprehensive table of hallmarks ever published in one book.

Here is the fascinating story of the great silversmiths and their art. All the factors of interest to the amateur, collector or connoisseur of Old Silver and Old Sheffield Plate are authoritatively covered:The development of design in tea services, flatware, candlesticks, trays, cups. Values and scarcity. Where to buy. How to collect. How to detect frauds. Reproductions. And most important, this book permits the exact and indisputable identification of Old Silver by means of the Hallmark tables. These are conveniently and simply arranged so that anyone may trace in a few moments any hallmarked piece of silver of American, English, Sheffield, French, German or other European origin.The splendid pictures are from photographs of authentic pieces from the foremost dealers in Antique Silver.

Mr. Seymour B. Wyler, himself a well-known New York dealer, is regarded both in this country and abroad as an authority.

"What the Kovels don't know about antiques," says House Beautiful, "isn't worth knowing."

About this edition

• Publisher: Skyhorse
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1620872110
• ISBN 13: 9781620872116
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 464