Shiny Things

 Occasionally people find out I care about things which are old, or "nice" in the sense of not-every day, and they pass on their objects to me. I don't get to host any tea parties (even before Corona) but I do like nice objects. Craftsmanship is valuable!

I got these from my husband's grandmother. They are from various members of her family. The Daffodil-pattern spoon is from 1950. The small spoon is called "Lido" and is a WMA Rogers from 1938. Finally on the far left, a Derby silver spoon in the "Harvard" pattern from 1883! I love the deco patterning. This is a great website if you need to identify old silver patterns: https://www.sterlingflatwarefashions.com/. (That does specify American though)

These are items I got from my Grandma's estate. I don't necessarily have the need for a full set, but I really liked these particular items. On the right is a cake server. It almost looks like it should be paired with another for a mirrored image! Then a butter spreader, a funny cocktail fork, a butter knife, a salad fork, regular fork, and soup spoon. Oh, and a wee baby curved spoon across the top. The last two have been engraved, there are an H and P around a large swoopy A for Henry Atwell Post. However, the A almost appears to have another name inside, and the central letter looks less-deeply engraved as if it were older and the H and P were added later. Was this done? 

I am having some luck with some of these patterns, but need to ask an expert about some of them. The most exciting first was probably the funny cocktail fork. It's maker's mark is a crossed pick and shovel with the initials M and B, which stands for Joseph Mayer & bros. He was a Seattle silversmith, and I found another excellent local history blog with great info about the gentlemen and their work. The author says the brothers even went up to Alaska and Dawson in the Yukon to be closer to the sources, i.e. the gold and silver coming out of the ground. As I have letters from a relative who was trying his hand at his fortune in Dawson, that is a fantastic connection to make. Mayer also made clocks, here is an image of the Friedlander's clock. 

Taken from the collections of the MOHAI site, it stands on 2nd and Cherry circa 1920. The collection states "This street clock was made by Joseph Mayer & Brothers Company, a watchmaking and wholesale jewelry business begun in Seattle in 1897. Founded by German immigrants Markus (1878-1950), Albert (1872-1929), Emil (1881-), Herman, & Joseph (1868-1937) Mayer, the company existed in various form until 1991. About 100 Mayer street clocks were produced between 1909-1930, often placed in front of jewelers or watchmakers. As of 2014, 15 of the 46 confirmed Mayer clocks in Seattle survive.

This clock was made for Friedlander & Son., Inc., Jewelers, at 1300 Second Avenue. The view in this image is looking east across Second Avenue. The building at the left of the frame is the Arcade Building, built in 1903; it is no longer standing".

But, back to the fork: it's pattern is "1909", made in 1906. 1909 was the year of the Yukon-Pacific Exposition, and Joseph Mayer & Bros made commemorative spoons (not this pattern but others) and "dollars"/medals for sale. I'm learning fantastic things just from silverware and can't wait to find out more. 1906 would have been before my grandmother and grandfather were born, so perhaps this was an item belonging to one of their parents. Her mother did collect commemorative spoons, so perhaps it came from her items.