Marks of American Silversmiths in the Ineson-Bissell Collection

by Louise Conway Belden

This is a valuable reference to some 1,700 marks of American silversmiths. They were selected from the more than three thousand pieces of flatware that comprise the Ineson-Bissell Collection of Small Silver Objects in the Winterthur Museum, the largest and finest collection in the United States....

Marks of American Silversmiths goes beyond other publications in several important respects. Photographs of 239 marks previously only listed or sketched allow for more precise identification than has been possible before. Three hundred and seventy-three marks are identified for the first time.... Dates and locations are provided for many makers until now only named. And, most important, the source for the identification of each mark is given.

505 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1980

Reviews

[Frederic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though it is less encyclopedic than some other publications, this has been the go-to reference for American silver marks from its publication for its authoritative scholarship, fine photographs of marks, and details of attribution. Many of the more recent state-by-state books have more information, and follow Belden in scholarly approach, but this remains an important tool for collectors of American silver.