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My question here is not so much WHO, but instead, WHEN? Here is the full length pic of the 22.9 cm long serving spoon marked "N.LANG" (Nathaniel Lang, Salem, Mass., 1736-1826, mark "entered" (so to speak) 1760).



Maker's mark:



The Old English pattern celtic point finial is not engraved, so no style hints there. This type of finial seemed to be most popular around 1780-1790 or so. But the very long drop on this spoon (really more than the scan appears to show) points to an origin maybe twenty years earlier. It's sturdy, about 2.5 troy ounces. Any opinions as to manufacture date? TIA!

SS
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He was born in 1736, most likely finished his apprenticeship at 21 or in 1756, the longer drop tends to drift earlier from my limited experiance so I would be guessing at 1770 1790. Sometimes the design will give generallities as to when the techniques were first employed, but only generally when they feel out of favor... There are other that can isolate certian designs to specific time frames with more accuracy than I...
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Wrong Nathaniel; this is the mark of the second, born in 1757 at Salem, son of silversmith Richard Lang and nephew of his namesake, born in 1736 and died in 1764.
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Another error in American Silver Marks... Thanks for the correction WEV... Am on your coast the past 2 weeks and only have one book with me... About Nathaniel Lang, being born in 1757, then he would have begun working about in 1778... do you agree?
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Yes, assuming the standard apprenticeship.
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Thank you both for your information.

SS
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