Running Through May... It's time to pull out the silver for a special occasion. As part of the Celebration of North Carolina Craft, proclaimed by Gov. Mike Easley for 2004-2005, the N.C. Museum of History is showcasing more than 100 premier pieces from its silver collection. Elegant tea services, flatware and other items shimmer and shine in the exhibit Crafted from Silver: Objects in the Museum's Collection, on view from March 9 to May 9 in Raleigh. From a 1690 tablespoon to 1947 jewelry, the exhibit features pieces made or owned by North Carolinians. The museum's silver collection has gained a reputation of national significance, thanks in part to the generous financial support of the N.C. Museum of History Associates and other benefactors. The collection's earliest pieces date to colonial America. Crafted from Silver highlights these treasures by renowned silversmiths such as Boston's Paul Revere II, famous for his historic 1775 midnight ride. Visitors will see salt spoons created by Revere ca. 1779-1808. Other early pieces include items imported from the British Isles for wealthier colonists. "Boston, New York and Philadelphia were the main centers of silversmithing in the colonies," says exhibit curator RoAnn Bishop. "The craft began to appear in North Carolina in the 1690s, but was not well established here until the mid-18th century. The exhibit highlights the work of some of our state's first silversmiths, such as Isaac Marquand of Edenton, Freeman Woods of New Bern and Roswell Huntington of Hillsborough." In the 17th and 18th centuries, northern silversmiths with access to English silver coins converted them into objects of beauty and utility. Crafted from Silver features tankards, toddy and punch ladles and other items bearing the marks of silversmiths from New York, Delaware, Connecticut and other northern colonies. A 1720 patchbox created by an unknown silversmith was used to store fabric patches-small pieces of material that women placed on their face, throat, or breasts as fashion accessories. Boston silversmith Thomas Trott created a more practical item—a mote spoon—during the mid-eighteenth century. Before the convenience of today's teabags, loose tea leaves were used to steep tea. This handy spoon with its pierced bowl permitted a tea drinker to scoop up the loose leaves from his or her cup. The spoon's pointed handle was used to unclog any leaves that might block the teapot spout. As silversmiths moved to North Carolina, they set up shops in Edenton, New Bern, Raleigh, Fayetteville, Hillsborough and Salem (present-day Winston-Salem), among other towns. The exhibit's earliest North Carolina-made piece is a tiny condiment utensil, a salt shovel, ca. 1794-1834, by Freeman Woods. Exhibit visitors will also see an 1805 teaspoon Roswell Huntington created from silver buckles from knee breeches and shoes. Other early 1800s pieces include spoons by John Vogler, a well-known silversmith in the Moravian settlement of Salem, and a coin silver ladle by Jehu Scott of Raleigh. In the 19th century, silversmiths such as Thomas William Brown of Wilmington practiced a brisk trade. Brown's refined teapot, sugar bowl, creamer and waste bowl were created just prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. Surprisingly, the service survived intact and virtually unscathed. Today it brings to mind afternoon teas with white linen and fine china. Crafted from Silver features the work of 20th-century Asheville silversmith William Waldo Dodge Jr., who began his professional life as an architect, but shifted his career focus after he was wounded during World War I. While recovering from his injuries, he began to work with silver and eventually opened his own studio in 1924. A tea service created by Dodge reflects the Arts and Crafts movement popular at the time. From simple to ornate, this stunning selection in Crafted from Silver will dazzle the eyes. Stop by the N.C. Museum of History to polish up on your knowledge of antique silver and appreciate the fine craft of silversmithing. Caring for Silver: When used frequently and polished and stored properly, silver will develop a soft patina that will make it easier to care for. Handling The best way to care for silver objects is to separate them from harmful conditions such as moisture, sulfur and other airborne chemicals, and the natural acids and salts that accumulate on your skin. Handle silver objects with clean cotton cloths or gloves. Cleaning Clean silver with a mild soap (no bleach!) as soon as possible after use. Rinse and dry it completely. Avoid soaking flatware; extended exposure to water can damage it. Never place silver in a dishwasher. Polishing Remove watches and rings before polishing silver to avoid scratching it. Use a gentle liquid or cream polish such as Tarnishield or Hagerty's, both of which contain tarnish inhibitors. Read and follow the directions. Avoid "miracle" dip solutions, which can remove niello, a shiny black coating applied to enhance the silversmith's workmanship. Also shun old methods using baking soda and metal foils, which remove not only tarnish but also minute amounts of silver. Polish with patience. Use gentle pressure and remove tarnish in two or three layers instead of one vigorous sweep. Display and Storage Place your silver in areas of your home that have fairly stable relative humidity and temperature. Avoid attics and basements; mantels above operating fireplaces; shelves immediately above or below air vents; and kitchens, where sulfur from cooking may accelerate oxidation. Store silver in airtight containers such as Hagerty's Intercept bags or Pacific Silvercloth. Include silver strips like those made by Hagerty's to absorb sulfur ions, which can cause tarnishing. (Back to Top) Glossary: alloy a combination of metals fused together. Pure silver is too soft for general use, so it is often mixed with a less expensive, or base, metal such as copper. coin silver objects made from melted silver coins. Approximately 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper, coin silver is not as pure as sterling. Before 1868 the United States had no standard of silver purity and few facilities to mine, refine, and fabricate the metal. Silver artisans used whatever was available, including coins. flatware knives, forks, spoons, and serving pieces. hallmark A series of marks applied to silver indicating purity, maker, date and place of inspection, and taxes paid. Hallmarking is required in England and used throughout Europe. Some American silversmiths adopted the practice. hollowware a general term for hollow vessels such as mugs, teapots, bowls, pitchers, and trays. maker's mark a mark identifying the maker of an object. Most American smiths use their own maker's mark. silver plate a base metal coated with a layer of silver. sterling silver an alloy of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper. Sterling is the standard for silver goods in the United States, Great Britain, and Scandinavia. (Back to Top) Books and Web Sites: Caring for silver American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works http://aic.stanford.edu/ Caring for Your Family Treasures: Heritage Preservation, by Jane S. Long and Richard W. Long Harry N. Abrams, 2000 Estes-Simmons Silverplating Ltd. http://www.estes-simmons.com/ Collecting silver American Silver and Pewter (The Antique Hunter's Guide), revised edition, by Donald L. Fennimore Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers, 2000 Public Broadcasting Service, "Antiques Roadshow: Tips of the Trade" http://www.pbs.org/.../previous_tips.html Hallmarks and silversmiths American Silversmiths and Their Marks, revised edition, by Stephen G. C. Ensko David R. Godine, 1989 Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers, by Dorothy T. Rainwater and Judy Redfield Schiffer Publishing, 2002 Kovels' American Silver Marks: 1650 to the Present, by Ralph Kovel and Terry Kovel Random House, 1989 Historical and modern silversmithing American Silver Flatware: 1837-1910, by Noel D. Turner Alan Wofsy Fine Arts, 1998 (reprint) The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, "Silversmith" http://www.history.org/Almanack/life/trades/tradesil.cfm Silver (The Smithsonian Illustrated Library of Antiques), by Jessie McNab Cooper-Hewitt Museum, 1981 Silver in America: 1840-1940, A Century of Splendor, by Charles L. Venable Harry N. Abrams, 1995 Silversmiths of North Carolina, 1696-1860, revised edition, by George B. Cutten and Mary Reynolds Peacock Division of Archives and History, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, 1984 Society of American Silversmiths http://www.silversmithing.com/ (Back to Top)

Learn More About Silver: Caring for Silver Glossary Books and Web Sites John Wren made this cruet set, ca. 1780-1820, possibly in London, England. This engraved patchbox, ca. 1720, was used to hold small pieces of fabric that women used as fashion accessories. The maker is unknown. Spoon by John Vogler. Thomas William Brown of Wilmington created this elegant tea service, ca. 1840-1850. Tea service made by William Waldo Dodge Jr.