American colonial silver buttons

[steve7408]

Hi to all,

These are the other set of buttons which I am researching at the moment, these were sold to me as pewter buttons, they are actually silver. So far for the I.K I have come across two possible candidates, James Kendall from Wilmington, Delaware, the other possible candidate could be Joseph Kneeland from Boston.
Various articles date these octagonal type buttons saying they were used between 1680-1750, others say 1680-1780? If true that would rule out Kendall has he is known to have started work as a silversmith about 1790, what is interesting is the other marks in a shield type cartouche, in one there is a K, the other has what looks like four birds or turtles, hard to know at the moment.
Hope you like them, anyone with some useful information regarding the buttons it would be appreciated.

Assayed result of one of these buttons so far

button 4 silver copper lead gold zinc

front plate 940.9 ppt 53.6 ppt 2.4 ppt 0.2 ppt 2.9 ppt

loop 936.5 ppt 57.8 ppt 2.2 ppt 0.5 ppt 3.0 ppt

solder 825.3 ppt 111.4 ppt 11.0 ppt 0.8 ppt 51.5 ppt

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[steve7408]

[oel]

Hi,


Dutch buttons. Shield with four lion’s rampant facing left; the guild city mark of Schoonhoven

Maker's mark IK for:Jan Kleyn registered 1767-died 1806, known button maker. Year-letter K for 1803.
For more information see:
http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=32028


Oel.

[steve7408]

Hi Oel,

Thanks for your input, unfortunately you will see the shield/cartouche is different, also the marks within the shield is different from the lions you mentioned.

Regards,

Steve

[oel]

Hi Steve,

No it is Schoonhoven, confirmed. The city mark of Schoonhoven is notoriously ‘unclear’ and based upon for lions rampant and with many variations, see variations Schoonhoven city marks used 1802-1804:


The maker's mark of Jan Kleyn, Schoonhoven 1767-1806, with known variations:


The year-letter K variations seen:


It could be the buttons were brought to the States by a Dutch settler.

Reference:Zilversmeden van de stad Schoonhoven


Best,

Oel.

[steve7408]

Hi Oel,

You are spot on there, I cannot disagree with what you have posted, thank you very much for the information, I shall now read up on this fellow

All the best

Steve

[oel]

Hi Steve,

Your welcome. Could you please show us an image of the buttons front side, are the buttons plain or decorated?
Herewith a little more information: Jan Kleyn, baptized 22-2-1742 and died 1806, parents: Anthonie Kleyn and Gijsbertje van den Bergh, registered silversmith in 1767, married 9-12-1763 with Lijntje van Buuren. In 1784 his son Bathomeus worked as apprentice under him. Jan Kollebring has been another apprentice working under Jan Kleyn, as of 1790. Other apprentices; Jan Hepekee 1779; Pieter Brons 1795 (Jan Kleyn paid guilders 3,-).


Reference: R.Kappers, 'Leerjongens van Schoonhovense goud- en zilversmeden, 1680-1798'. Ons Voorgeslacht 69 (2014) p. 33-39.

Best,

Oel.

[steve7408]

Hi Oel,

Did you just attach the line about the fronts of the buttons? It was not there before when I read your post, unless I am going daft!!!

The buttons are just plain fronted, no engraved marks/pictures, absolutely clean as a whistle, will have to upload a picture to another site first before I can send it here, do you need them if they have no markings on the front?

What made me smile was the way they were sold to me, told they were pewter which they look like from the backs, only shown the IK very cleverly done, still I must smile about it. Thank you for your input it was very useful, still not able to find much on Google about the silversmith or other pieces of his works, it's the research I enjoy most and of course the objects, if you know any other works of his could you point me in the right direction please.

Many thanks for your help and saving me a whole lot of time

Regards

Steve

[oel]

Hi,

Yes, we would love to see an image of the buttons front side!

Regarding; R.Kappers, 'Leerjongens van Schoonhovense goud- en zilversmeden, 1680-1798'se I will sent you a pm.

Oel.

[steve7408]

Hi Oel,

Here is the picture of the fronts as requested



Best

Steve

[BeauHarper]

http://925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php ... 09#p123909
heres my button same year and maker!

[BeauHarper]

also note the shank looks exactly the same on mine and yours... that helps confirm that we have the same maker