Erik in NJ
Silver Member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2010
- Messages
- 4,037
- Reaction score
- 3,043
- Golden Thread
- 1
- Location
- The Garden State
- 🥇 Banner finds
- 1
- Detector(s) used
- Minelab Explorer SE Pro & CTX-3030
- Primary Interest:
- Metal Detecting
First of all I wish to thank OWK for his invaluable assistance in dating of this beautifully engraved spoon and also the interpretation of the engraved initials. I found this amazing relic a few years back only about an inch or two deep and have always cherished it as a beautiful piece of local history. With OWKs expertise in silver spoons I am now quite certain that which family the spoon belonged to and that it was in all likelihood part of a set given to them on their wedding day. Following is the write up I did on it--please pardon the censorship, but I am trying to protect the current homeowners from detecting requests and local poaching of sites has been a big problem for me lately.
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This beautifully engraved coin silver (.900) spoon was found on a property near the house at (censored) in (censored) New Jersey. Abraham was married to Mary. The spoon may have been part of a set given to Mr. and Mrs. (censored) as a wedding gift since commonly the groom’s first initial, the bride’s first initial, and then the first initial of the married last name were engraved onto such silverware. Thus the “AMA” in all likelihood represents “Abraham and Mary (censored)."
The spoon has been dated to circa 1785 — 1800 by the shape of its handle and style of its engraving by an expert in the field. With the additional context of Mary’s birthdate this timeframe can be reasonably be narrowed to 1795 — 1800. The style of the decorative wriggle engraving is called “bright-cut.”
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I gave a copy of the write-up to the current owners of the house today and had a very nice talk with them. It's amazing to be able to tie a particular relic not only a family, but to couple that was married over 200 years ago!
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This beautifully engraved coin silver (.900) spoon was found on a property near the house at (censored) in (censored) New Jersey. Abraham was married to Mary. The spoon may have been part of a set given to Mr. and Mrs. (censored) as a wedding gift since commonly the groom’s first initial, the bride’s first initial, and then the first initial of the married last name were engraved onto such silverware. Thus the “AMA” in all likelihood represents “Abraham and Mary (censored)."
The spoon has been dated to circa 1785 — 1800 by the shape of its handle and style of its engraving by an expert in the field. With the additional context of Mary’s birthdate this timeframe can be reasonably be narrowed to 1795 — 1800. The style of the decorative wriggle engraving is called “bright-cut.”
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I gave a copy of the write-up to the current owners of the house today and had a very nice talk with them. It's amazing to be able to tie a particular relic not only a family, but to couple that was married over 200 years ago!
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