Posted 5 years ago
hmartincalle
(2 items)
I have what the auction described as a Barbour Silver Co. Dutch Scene Embossed Silver Plate Tea Service that I am completely unable to authenticate or find online. Pics included. Hallmark on the tea pot, creamer, and sugar appear Barbour and are stamped 3150. I can’t find that pattern anywhere online to confirm. The tea caddy also has the same Barbour (?) Hallmark and bears the number 3238. The trivet has no Hallmark or number but seems to match the set. This is a real mystery. I can’t find it online and I’ve received no responses from Antiques Roadshow silver appraisers or the people at the Connecticut Historical Society. Barbour, later International Silver, was based in Hartford or Meriden, CT. Any help identifying is greatly appreciated!
Found a Dutch Line reference :
"BARBOUR SILVER CO., Hartford and Meriden, Conn.
Organized in 1892 in Hartford, Connecticut... this company itself was the product of a consolidation of I. J. Steane & Co., Barbour Hobson Co., and Barbour Bros. Co... Barbour made sterling hollowware and fine quality silverplated hollowware, specializing in heavily chased and engraved pieces plated on a nickel silver base. From 1921 to 1931, the company also made an extensive line of ’Dutch’ silver, plated on copper. In 1921, Barbour Sterling was transferred to the Wilcox & Evertsen plant. The plant closed in 1931 and the trademark was retired from active use."
— Edmund P. Hogan in An American heritage: A book about the International Silver Company (1977), p. 159. (See entry below.)
https://www.artdesigncafe.com/barbour-silver-company-hartford
Thanks so much! I’ll read! What I’m looking for is visual confirmation. Pictures of the pieces with numbers and hallmarks from a company catalog, collector with the same pieces, advertising, etc. Stoked by your lead! Can’t wait to follow the link!
The form of your set has references to the ‘Amsterdaamse School’. Love it.
Thank you Mr. Holmes! I, Watson, shall pursue :)
Nothing turns up online. I’ve tried every manifestation of search terms both straight forward and abstract. Nothing even remotely similar comes up. Reached out to dozens of relevant historical societies, museums, libraries, auction houses, appraisers, social media groups, collectors, even television shows like Antiques Roadshow. Nothing comes up. You are the first to respond! Thank you! Has to be a record somewhere, right!? A picture of another set? A paragraph? I can’t even get a hit on the pattern number 3150.
I have some Dutch themed pieces from Barbour. I've had them authenticated as being American made silverplate. I've had great success finding old catalogues online at The Smithsonian (JW Tufts catalogues were great). I created a search using Barbour with several combinations of 'Smithsonian' and had some success. You might also take a look at The Hagley Museum in Delaware. They specialize in catalogues and ephemera. https://www.hagley.org/
Thank you! I’ll follow up on that. Talking to The Connecticut Historical Society right now too :) You’re the best! Thanks for helping! Every lead appreciated greatly!
Have you seen this :
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=77826
This might be helpful :
https://www.google.com/search?sitesearch=www.smpub.com%2Fubb%2FForum21%2F&q=Barbour