New Article - The Patterns of Knowles & Ladd

[admin]

Dear Members,

A fine article on the flatware patterns produced by Providence, Rhode Island silversmiths, Knowles & Ladd, has been written by forum member Stanley Hayes (shayes).
The article can be found onsite at ->
http://www.925-1000.com/a_Knowles&Ladd.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Comments & questions are welcomed.

Regards, Tom
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[dragonflywink]

Wonderful article, Stanley! Well written and great illustrations, believe I've fallen in love with the Leaf & Berry pattern (could it be a slightly stylized Mulberry?). Mid 19th-early 20th century American pattern flatware was my first love in silver, and have always admired the designs of Knowles & Ladd and the later J.B. & S.M. Knowles.

Any thoughts on why so much of their production was unmarked? Many years ago, bought my swan collector Mom a lovely sterling serving spoon that included a swan with upraised wings as part of the design, always suspected Knowles, but was some time before I found a marked example.

~Cheryl
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[shayes]

Thanks for your kind thoughts, Cheryl.
As to why Knowles & Ladd left so much of their output unmarked, my only thought--and it's just a guess--is that the vast majority of their stock was perhaps sold through retailers, and some retailers didn't want any other mark on the silver but their own. That doesn't explain why so much is marked only "coin" without any retailer.

I believe the numbers that one finds next to the coin mark refer to the actual silversmith who produced that particular piece. I suppose it could also be an in-house ID number, but as I've only seen numbers below 15, that explanation is hard to swallow.
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[Catfootfog]

Stanley -
I just read your wonderful Knowles & Ladd article which enabled me to identify some old family silver : it's 'Ivy'!!! Thank you!. It's exciting to learn that it's the first known pattern by Knowles and Ladd.
By the way, mine is clearly marked 'Knowles & Ladd'. I gather this is somewhat unusual?
Does it come on the market often? I haven't been looking long as I only recently inherited it. I am missing quite a few pieces. I see your example is marked 'N.Harding & Co' Would I be most likely to find it under that name? I will check for the Harding name too. Are there other names which might help locate this pattern? Thanks for any advice.
Thanks again for sharing your wonderful article!
~ Bonnie
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[shayes]

I'm glad that you were able to identify family silver because of the article, Bonnie! IVY doesn't appear all that often, but it's not impossible to find, either. To locate more pieces I would search under N. Harding as well as Knowles and K&L. I don't think the pattern name is well-known, but some sellers are very knowledgeable. I'd bet that most of the pieces are unmarked, except for perhaps a retailer, so congratulate yourself that you have marked examples!
Stan
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[silverly]

To go along with what D Albert Soeffing had to say in this article about
there not being a Webster & Knowles, here are Providence Directory entries that apply to the mentioned period:

1852-3 Henry L Webster spoon manufacturer rear of 111
and 244 N Main. Joseph B Knowles jeweller 56 Friendship.

1853-4 Henry L Webster spoon manufacturer, rear 113 S Main.
Joseph B Knowles jeweller at 389 N Main.

1854-5 Henry L Webster & Co silver spoon man'r, 113 S Main.
Joseph P(typo?) Knowles (H L Webster & Co) silver spoon man'r, 113 S Main.

1857 Henry L Webster & Co silversmiths c Eddy & Middle.
Joseph B Knowles (H L Webster & Co) 11 Eddie.

1858 Henry L Webster & Co silverware manufacturers is listed at 11 Eddy
and 51 Westminster, Joseph B Knowles (H L Webster & Co) silversmith 51
Westminster.

1860 Henry L Webster & Co silversmiths 11 Eddy. Samuel J Ladd (H L Webster & Co)
silversmith 11 Eddy. Joseph B Knowles (H L Webster & Co) silversmith 51 Westminster.
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