Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers a book in print by Dorothy T. Rainwater and Judy Redfield

The Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers a book in print by Dorothy T. Rainwater and Judy Redfeild is a must have book for any serious antique silver collector. This books showcases the hundreds of silver manufacturers in The United States that ever existed. The reference material provided in the book is novel and often times information that can not be found on the internet. With over 400 pages of information this is the ideal source on finding everything you need to know about specific manufacturers of sterling silver.

Back Cover Book Description:

With more than 2400 marks illustrated and brief histories and cross-references of more than 1600 manufacturers, this is the most comprehensive reference source on the subject.

To compile the information presented here, the authors devoted much time over several decades researching numerous sources. These include various editions of Trademarks of the Jewelry & Kindred Trades, U.S.

Patent Office records, city directories, census records,

newspapers, magazines, silver and jewelry catalogs of manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, records of companies still in business, and pieces examined in antiques shops all over the country.

This fifth edition includes many new trademarks and revisions to existing listings and brings up to date many changes in company ownership during the last decade.

About the authors

Dorothy T. Rainwater and Judy Redfield

Dorothy Thornton Rainwater is the leading authority on American silver and its makers. She has numerous articles published on silver and related subjects in many collectors' magazines, trade journals, and newspapers. Her other books are American Silverplate with H. Ivan Rainwater, Sterling Silver Holloware, and American Jewelry Manufacturers. She has co-authored American Spoons, Souvenir & Historical and A Collector's Guide to Spoons Around the World with Donna H. Felger.

Mrs. Rainwater lectures on the subject of American silver, especially that of the Victorian era, and participates in antiques forums and symposiums throughout the country.

Judy Redfield has been interested in silver, particularly silverplate, since she was a child. Helping her mother select a wedding gift, a sugar bowl/spooner with a bird on top, first introduced her to the subject. Born in Canada, Judy originally came to the United States for graduate study in the field of Physical Anthropology. She obtained her master's degree from Harvard and married Alden Redfield, a fellow student. She opened her first antique shop in 1972. In 1975, while doing some research for a friend, she "discovered" the Redfield silverplating companies which turned out to have been owned by a distant relative. These companies were in business from about 1852 to 1872 during the formative years of the American silverplating industry. Her particular interest ever since has been the study of the industry during that time period.

Over the years, Judy wrote occasional articles for Nature & Science, The Antiques Journal, and The Antique Trader and even published a few poems. She also presented a regular antiques segment on a local television program. In 1993, Judy became associated with Silver Magazine, for which she has produced more than twenty articles on a variety of silver topics. She currently serves as a contributing editor.

Judy first became acquainted with Dorothy Rainwater in 1975 through her search for information about the Redfield companies. Over the years they kept in touch, and when the third edition of the Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers was being prepared, she contributed a series of mark photographs to the project. In connection with her work for Silver, Judy discovered new information about a variety of different manufacturers which she shared with Dorothy, who then suggested that they might work together to prepare a fourth edition of this book.

Book Excerpt Sample Article from The Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers:  George W. Shiebler & Co.

GEORGE W. SHIEBLER & CO.

New York, New York

CHRONOLOGY

George W. Shiebler

George W. Shiebler & Co.

1876-1891

1891-1910

George W. Shiebler was born in 1846 in Baltimore Maryland, the son of a German im-migrant, who had a number of other children as well. His older brothers, Andrew K. and Will-iam, entered the jewelry & silverware trades also, and achieved notable success. George's early education took place in Washington, D.C. where he worked for a time as a Western Union Messenger. (Soeffing, in Venable's Silver in America,

1994, biographical section, p. 322)

George W. Shiebler's first job in the trade was working as a travelling salesman for the gold chain manufacturing firm of Jahne, Smith & Co. in 1867. He remained with them until the deaths of both Jahne and Smith about 1870-71, then became a partner in the successor firm of Hodenpyl, Tunison & Shiebler, which continued in the gold chain business.

This firm, like many others, suffered financially as a result of the Panic of 1873. Shiebler withdrew from the business in 1874. After remaining out of business for a year, he decided to purchase the business of Coles & Reynolds (q.v.), manufacturers of silver spoons. On March 4, 1876, with a force of five men, he began business under his own name. (Horological Review,

Over the next few years he acquired the tools and dies of a variety of important early firms. He bought out the business of John Polhamus (q.v.) in 1877. In 1883 he purchased the factory of Morgan Morgans (q.v.), who had succeeded Albert Coles (q.v.) This plant he merged with the others. (Soeffing, ibid) In addition he also managed to obtain the flatware dies of A. & W. Wood (probably through Coles & Reynolds), Henry Hebbard, Hebbard & Polhamus, and Theodore Evans & Co. A few years later he moved the factory operations to

In the beginning, the Shiebler firm made only spoons and forks but its line was gradually expanded until it produced the largest line of novelties in silver extant at the time. Shiebler was a highly skilled and innovative designer and used his talents to enhance his firm's position.

Over the years he obtained a number of patents

for flatware patterns and souvenir spoon (Soeffing, ibid.)

The company was especially noted for is medallion work, inspired by the excavations of Pompeli and Herculaneum, and its transparent enamel work. Raised Greek and Roman mottoes appeared on the articles giving them the appearance of the antique. This type of work was applied onto work brooches, sleeve buttons and bangles applied later extended to forks, spoons and hollowware.

Oxidized silver had until then been a failure on the the market but when introduced by Shiebler it met with instant success. Another one of his innovations was silver leaves tinted in all the rich autumn colors. This work was applies to spoons, berry bowls, pitchers and other articles. Shiebler is also credited with the introduction of the Renaissance open-work style in jewelry, bonbonnieres, dishes, trays and spoons. On January 1, 1892 the firm was incorporated as George W. Shiebler & Co. George W.

Shiebler was president and Wm.F.Shicle, trea surer. It continued in business until 1910 when Shiebler dissolved the firm and retired as a manufacturer. He spent the last ten years of his life working for Gorham (q.v.) The fate of most of the company's tools and dies is uncertain.

Gorham reportedly purchased some of them. The Mauser Manufacturing Co. obtained the dies for the American Beauty flatware pattem. (Soeffing. ibid.)

(End of Article Sample from The Encyclopedia of Silver Manufacturers)

Conclusion: If you want complete information at your fingertips about silver manufacturers in American then The Encyclopedia of Silver Manufacturers is a must have in your quest for antique silver.

Please Sell your

Antique Sterling Silver  

 to: The Silver Museum LLC

The Silver Museum LLC wants to purchase silver pieces like the ones shown above!

If you have items that you'd like to sell,

or even just want to get an idea on valuation

please click the email us button for a quote.

Email Us:

Please send us photos, measurements and item descriptions.

Thanks,

Greg Arbutine

Silver Museum Owner

Click logo to take you to our website.

The Silver Museum buys all Antique Sterling Silver.

Please sell your Antique Sterling Silver Pieces to The Silver Museum!

Article Authored by Greg Arbutine - Greg Arbutine is a world expert on antique sterling silver flatware and hollowware items having been in the antique silver industry since 1972. He collects silver for his museum but also loves to wheel and deal on almost any other forms of silver items.