The Silver Antiques Insider

And Now... A Word From Our Sponsor

Nelson & Nelson Antiques is a family-owned antique sterling silver business run by the husband and wife team of Steve and Marge Nelson since 1975. Our glittering store, located on Park Avenue in the heart of New York City, always showcases a treasure-trove of late 19th Century and early 20th Century sterling silver. We always have a large selection of candle sticks, candelabra, picture frames, tea sets, trays, hollowware, flatware, vanity items and the most comprehensive collection of silver overlay within New York and its surrounding area. Silver items by such famous makers as Tiffany, Gorham, and Jensen are always available. We also have a large variety of bronze d'ore picture frames, cut crystal, unique figural objects, beautiful enamels and distinctive Victorian, Edwardian and Retro jewelry. We'll also buy your fine (and even your not so fine!) sterling, entire estates or single items. In our over 30 years of business, we, and our friendly and knowledgeable staff, have served thousands of satisfied customers and we all take pride in ensuring that every visit, whether to our store or to our website, will always be a sterling experience.

Visit our website: www.NelsonAndNelsonAntiques.com

Visit our store at 445 Park Avenue, New York, N.Y. (between 56th and 57th Streets)
Open Monday to Saturday 11:00am to 5:30pm

Or call us at 212-980-5825

Revisiting "Silversmiths to the Nation"

The first weekend of the New Year will be a special one for silver enthusiasts here in the Big Apple. At the Metropolitan Museum of Art a variety of educational programs have been organized in conjunction with their current exhibit: "Silversmiths to the Nation: Thomas Fletcher and Sidney Gardiner, 1808-1842".

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The How, What, and Why of Early–19th–Century American Silver

Saturday, January 5, 2008 10:00am to 1:00pm
Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, NY

This half-day workshop will be hosted in turn by Stephen Smithers, Beth Carver Wees (Associate Curator, American Decorative Arts, MMA), and Alice W. Schwarz. They will add extra dimension to the fine silver artifacts on display by answering the following questions: How were they made? What purpose did they serve? Why were they created?

“Participants will converse with a silversmith as he tools; tour the exhibition with its curator; and immerse themselves in gallery and classroom activities with a Museum educator.” (www.metmuseum.org)

To apply for the workshop please call 212-570-3985 or send an email to teachers@metmuseum.org. Enrollment is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. There’s a $40.00 registration fee to cover the cost of instruction and materials. No meals are provided.

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A number of Family Programs have also been planned for that weekend. The “Look Again!” series encourages participants, by way of conversation, sketching, and the odd performance, to examine works of art more closely, while “How Did They Do That?” is a 30-minute hands-on session that introduces kids (and adults!) to the nuts and bolts of fine art and the creation process. These programs are included free with the regular museum admission.

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Look Again! Shining Bright
11:00am to 12:30pm
Uris Center for Education, Ground Floor

How Did They Do That? American Silversmithing
1:00pm to 4:00 pm
Luce Center, The American Wing

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Look Again! Metally Alert
11:00am to 12:30pm
Uris Center for Education, Ground Floor

How Did They Do That? American Silversmithing
1:00pm to 4:00 pm
Luce Center, The American Wing

Let The Bells Ring!

When a group of elementary school teachers in Ottawa, Ontario decided to change the lyrics to “Silver Bells” for a sing-a-long concert some parents grew downright fervourous. According to a report from CBC News they were planning to replace the phrase “Christmas day” with “a festive day” until the parents voiced concern.

I really don’t see what all the fuss is about and frankly I don’t think Ray Evans, who wrote the lyrics, would have cared for this either. Though Ray Evans joined his writing partner Jay Livingston in the great beyond earlier this year we still have access to this telling feature, produced by NPR back in 2005, all about Evans and his role in the origin of "Silver Bells."

The song debuted in 1951 in this scene from a Bob Hope holiday film entitled The Lemon Drop Kid.

Bing Crosby recorded a version for radio-play shortly thereafter and a long list of entertainers followed suit. The song has since been recorded and performed countless times. It has sold over 500 million copies and it has undergone almost as many re-arrangements and re-interpretations.

So I find it hard to imagine why anyone would take offense if the school kids had performed their modified version. Alas, in the end, they decided to drop the song from their program altogether.

In lieu of their performance I plundered my own collection of Christmas albums for different versions of the song and then spent yesterday afternoon browsing the Salvation Army record bins before enlisting the aid of Conor, young nephew to my neighbour Alice. He managed to find digital copies of some of my old favourites plus a few additions of his own and many more that neither of us had ever heard before.

This morning we pared our collection down and arranged for you this rather eclectic playlist.

Merry Christmas from Nelson & Nelson Antiques!

Silver Bells by The Ventures:

Silver Bells by The Heritage Hall Jazz Band:

Silver Bells by Twisted Sister:

Silver Bells by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band:

Silver Bells by Jacob Miller:

Can You Shed Some Light On This Candelabrum?

Last week I entered the Nelson & Nelson Antiques showroom on Park Avenue just as my co-worker was changing the window display. This stately candelabrum caught my eye and tickled my fancy.

Judging by the craftsmanship, the hallmark, and the date (1848) this piece must be the work of Benjamin Smith III, the last in a family of fine silversmiths to be working out of London in the 19th century.

It stands about three feet high and it’s topped with a glass bowl that has been engraved with a floral, leafy detail. The stem and the arms have been fashioned and textured to resemble the trunk and branches of a tree. Three women are positioned around the trunk just above the candelabrum’s solid base.

At first glance I assumed these women to be The Three Graces but I dispelled that notion with a closer inspection. The Three Graces usually appear nude. These women are fully clothed. The Graces are said to represent beauty, charm, and joy. Although these ladies are beautiful, I consider their rigid stance to be anything but charming or joyful.

Besides, as far as I’m aware, the Graces never carried any props. These women each display a different prop: one stands next to what appears to be a beehive, the second offers a chalice, and the third holds a staff bearing the Hand of Fatima.

Next, The Muses came to mind. They always carry some device that corresponds to a particular character trait, but, search as I might, I could find no reference to these devices in any article about The Muses.

For help I consulted Gus Myberg, a good friend and trivia buff. He returned my call a few days later but he couldn't offer any substantial leads. “Do you think they might be King Lear’s daughters?” he said.

“Interesting, but -” I thought it over. “No, I don’t see the connection.”

“How about the Three Fates?”

“No. Gustav, I think we’ve lost the thread here.”

I studied the women once more. Apart from the different props they are identical. It’s as though their individual personalities were intentionally de-emphasized in favour of a general solemn countenance and dignified air. I grew convinced that the key to understanding this whole candelabrum was to be found, not in the women, but in the items they are presenting: the beehive, the chalice, and the Hand of Fatima.

Already exhausted, I turned my research to the symbolism of those devices and entered a sprawling, dimly lit maze of Kabbalah, Zoroastrianism, Paganism, and the legend of the Holy Grail.

I came up with nothing.

Am I reading too much into this? Maybe the whole thing is, as the designer's initials might suggest, a load of B.S. Could it have been that Smith chose a mishmash of cultural detritus and mystical mumbo-jumbo to represent some private, neoclassical myth that we were never meant to understand?

What do you think?

Wine, Worship, and Sacrifice: The Golden Graves of Ancient Vani | Treasures From Georgia

December 1, 2007 – February 24, 2008
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (Smithsonian) in Washington, DC

Are relatives from out of town causing you problems?

Send them to the Smithsonian!

Currently on display in the Smithsonian’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery they’ll find treasures from the ancient Kingdom of Colchis, where Persian and Greek cultures collided with a torrent of wine to produce a plethora of rich ornamentation in gold, silver, iron, and bronze.

If you’d like more information, Blake Gopnik’s article for The Washington Post will place the artifacts into a vivid historical context.

Also, be sure to check out this interactive slideshow courtesy of The Sackler Gallery.

The Kittens' Tea Party

Victorian taxidermist Walter Potter is back in the headlines. He received a fair bit of press when his collected works hit the auction block at Bonhams a few years ago. Now the previous owners are suing the auctioneers for not accepting the lucrative offer made by none other than YBA poster boy Damien Hirst (whose latest installation can be viewed in the lobby of the Lever House just down the street from Nelson & Nelson Antiques).

With that kind of money being thrown around I don’t think I’ll ever be able to afford an actual piece of Potter-phernalia but somewhere stashed away in a box I’ve got the next best thing. My British pen pal once sent me a postcard bearing an image of The Kittens’ Tea Party tableau. Many long afternoons were spent imagining the sort of catty remarks one might hear at that table.

“Mew, what a splendid set of tea-urns!” Minnie said to her esteemed hostess, Lady Permelia.

“Why thank you, meow-meow. They’re sterling, you know – been in my family’s possession since 1833.”

“More mouse tarts!” said Florence to the waiter. In an effort to be heard over the tinkle of teaspoons and ceaseless chatter she sprayed a fine mist of pastry crumbs across the table. Theodosia swung her head to dodge the crumbs and caught the tail end of a different conversation. “Heaven forefend!” Her ginger paw leapt to cover her mouth. “HOW big was her litter?”

“Sterling my mee-ow-za,” Winnie whispered privately to Ginny. “Lady P is putting on the dog. I do believe that urn is of a Sheffield plate.”

“Meow, Maxine,” Henrietta leaned forward with a pregnant pause and a determinedly malicious glint in her eye that commanded the attention of everyone at the table (save for Florence). “Was that not Thomas I witnessed exiting your quarters by way of the alley late last Thursday night?”

All eyes turned to Little Maxie who blushed, looked down at her plate, and voiced a barely audible “Mew.”

Living With Silver Antiques

Collecting can be a truly enriching experience but as the catalogue grows your innocent hobby can become detrimental to the inner harmony of your home. No self-respecting collector wants to keep her treasures boxed up, so how are you going to display all that stuff?

The heirloom hutch might be an obvious choice, otherwise, many older homes come equipped with mantles, lintels, and ledges but in the case of fine silver antiques, I must warn against all of the above. According to Pamela Wiggins (about.com) certain types of finishes and even some types of unvarnished wood emit vapours that “cause an adverse chemical reaction with silver, which can lead to heartbreaking damage.”

Furthermore, prolonged exposure to moisture can catalyze the tarnishing process. According to Ken Arnold, the author of Caring For Your Collectibles, silver should be displayed in an environment where the relative humidity is maintained at a level of 45 - 50 percent.

Enclosed cabinets with glass shelves and glass-fronted doors are ideal display cases (like those you can see in use over at Nelson & Nelson Antiques). They offer the best viewing privileges while also providing protection and some potential to control your collection’s exposure to tarnish-inducing humidity.

With just a little organization and a bit of understanding we can all get the most out of living with an antique silver collection.

But no matter how nice your display looks, just be sure not to lock your silver away until the end of time. Keep in mind that antique silver artifacts were designed for everyday functions. Regular use and subsequent cleaning creates the sheen, sometimes referred to as patina, which sets old silver apart from its ersatz modern-day relatives and makes the collection of silver antiques a truly rewarding pursuit.

The Sacred Silver Collection

Permanent Exhibition
The Victoria & Albert Museum in London, UK

Now that half the menorah is aglow and we’re entering the second week of Advent I’d like to take this moment to praise the Sacred Silver Collection at The Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

The Victoria & Albert Museum is the permanent host to a vast collection of silver finery from all over the globe. The Sacred Silver Collection contains artifacts of Christian and Jewish worship from early medieval times to the present day. Backed by a fascinating history of religion via metalwork, the breath-taking craftsmanship is a must-see for any silver enthusiast, regardless of faith.

Check out The Victoria & Albert Museum online for more information.

A word of caution from one who once got lost within their halls: the V & A can be over-whelming for the uninitiated visitor. This Telegraph article is a little outdated (e.g. the Sacred Silver Collection is now open to the public) but it has more than a few helpful hints to ensure a rewarding visit. Can’t say I agree with their Top 20 list though.

Old-Timey And Eco-Friendly To Boot

Over the last few years there’s been a big push to promote eco-awareness and minimize the impact of this notoriously wasteful season. Last year, Time magazine published Maryanne Murray Buechner’s article on “How to Have a Green Christmas” and now, in her report for The New York Times, Penelope Green has named 2007 “The Year Of Eco Decorating.”

I couldn’t help but notice that fine silver antiques were not mentioned once in either article. While it’s pretty safe to say that sustainability was the last thing on the mind of any turn-of-the-century mine engineer, the silversmiths, to their credit, were committed to producing art with staying power. Their craft champions long-term usability and therefore stands in opposition to the apparent evils of disposable convenience.

So how about a small sample of vintage décor direct from the online catalogue* of Nelson & Nelson Antiques?

First off, for the environmentally aware socialite who has yet to assemble a hoard of holiday ensembles, we offer a large selection of previously enjoyed jewelry and fine accessories.

For the high-minded host we carry a number of antique sterling silver flatware sets and a whole array of serving dishes and decorative objects, including some truly stunning centerpieces.

Better than a tin-can reindeer, n’est-ce pas?

Finally, for those of you looking to make a more literal “green statement” this holiday season, check out our collection of Art Nouveau emerald crystal vases all adorned with delicate sterling silver overlay. These pieces were produced at the turn-of-the-century by various silversmith firms along America’s east coast, most notably those who eventually merged in 1933 to form the Hickok Matthews Company in Newark, New Jersey. Each piece is made of a rich, emerald green crystal and adorned with sterling silver overlay in the Art Nouveau style. Leafy silver tendrils flow across and entwine each glass in a cool, organic pattern.

And there you have it. Why support the high-stakes game of modern manufacturing when you can enjoy a timeless antique whose artistry outshines all the latest fads?

* Please note: most, but not all, of Nelson & Nelson’s inventory can be viewed in the online catalogue. Any interested parties may want to visit the store at its Manhattan location.

Authentication and Appraisal: What You Need To Know

Wednesday, December 5, 2007 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Humanities and Social Sciences Library in New York, NY

Is a “free” appraisal a good appraisal?

How can you be sure you’re getting a fair deal?

You can learn the answers to these questions and more by attending a lecture this Wednesday afternoon at the New York Public Library. Curator Paula Baxter, of the Wallach Art & Architecture Collection, will attempt to demystify the process of appraising and authenticating fine and decorative art objects.

Class will be held at the Celeste Bartos Education Center in the new South Court building. Registration costs nothing and seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A modicum of computer skills are required but if you’re reading this post I think it’s safe to assume you’ve got what it takes.

Check out the NYPL website for more information.