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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: Oceans64 on November 18, 2010, 03:30:53 PM
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I bought this today with the intention of cleaning it up and maybe seating some glass in it... or something. I like things elevated on the table. Anyway, it was unmarked and the cashier priced it at $3 and I grudgingly paid it. I got home and noticed a mark. What I have found is:
LAWRENCE B. SMITH CO - Boston, MA Founded in 1887. Out of business 1958 c. This piece is marked 995 Should I assume the higher the mark, the newer it is? I found one on ebay... WAAAYYY better condition and a very high price.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-SHEFFIELD-FRUIT-COMPOTE-MESHED-VERY-RARE-/330496456816?pt=Antiques_Silver&hash=item4cf31fb870
How should I clean this (or should I)? and any idea of a date... I haven't found much more than silverware out there....
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n494/bwaltier/Silver/LSBSheffieldFront.jpg)
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n494/bwaltier/Silver/GWSilver001.jpg)
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n494/bwaltier/Silver/LSBSheffieldBack.jpg)
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n494/bwaltier/Silver/LSBSheffieldMark.jpg)
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Wow that is a well-spent $3 considering the price it is listed for on Ebay! That's quite lovely and I think you just beat out my chinahead for "Find of the Week"!! I think 995 refers to the silver content and is actually .995
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I believe this is silverplate and 995 is the model number. I have seen the bell date mark on other maker's items and theirs dates to 1950 with the bell.
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How do you think I should clean it... Normal silver polish? I think there is much silver missing and I hate to hurt the copper or make it look worse...
Tales... I like your doll better !! LOL I think the eBay item might be a bit of "Blue Sky"
Wait... Wouldn't copper turn greenish? This almost looks like (gulp) rust...
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Ah, good point Wayward. I wonder if the Ebay seller made the same mistake and hence the high price?
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Agree 995 is the part/item number.
Is it just really tarnished or is the silverplate worn off?
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All of his pieces were numbered so I'm sure 995 is the item number.
I bit the bullet and started cleaning. It's taking several methods and much time. Part of the silver is worn off. Here's a pic of the progress:
*** BTW - It is sitting on my Cake plate... The bowl is the inside piece - confusing, sorry..
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Hi Oceans,
I found this one with the same markings, and they think it dates from the 1930s ....
They say that their number is a Pattern Number 663
http://www.abesilverman.com/A834.html
There is a link for more info on LBS & Co, but there is a charge .. >:(
They also suggest that the Cross-Crown - Bell is the company's logo
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Funnily enough, the vendors on the ebay link you give actually describe theirs as Sheffield Plate, which I don't think is correct ... Sheffield Plate is an actual layer of silver on top of copper, and I think later pieces were a silver - copper - silver sandwich. I think that is why they are asking so much for it. Eveything that I've found so far for this company suggests that their pieces are electro-plated.
Someone will get a bit of a shock if they buy it thinking it's Sheffield Plate, but then again I think anyone who knows what it is wouldn't make that mistake.
Nevertheless .. you've got a lovely piece there... ;)
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In the mark it says Sheffield (between the bell and the 995) so perhaps that's the confusion? He had a couple of generations of marks from what I am finding. I kinda think it's later since the number is higher. Not sure if there was any rhyme or reason but you do see a lot of lower numbers with early dates.
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Hi Oceans,
I think that yours is quite early... looking at the Replacements site some of the pattern numbers are in the 7000s
http://www.replacements.com/silver/LSM.htm
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Thought I would post my finished pics. It turned out well considering what I started with. The pics actually show WAY more defects than you can see in natural light/naked eye - esp. around the base - Probably b/c of flash. Will be pretty on the Thanksgiving table with a clear glass insert and cranberries ;D
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I'm just wondering if you would use a translucent orange shade dish if the copper wouldn't be less visible?
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I tried orange but I don't think I'm a fan of orange & silver (at least the orange I have & tried it with). The copper isn't as visible in real life as it is in the pic - maybe with the exception of the rounded part on the front. It's not a show piece by any means. Kinda why I decided to use it w/cranberries instead of the whipped cream. It'll look more like a reflection than a flaw ::)
My original intent was to spray paint the thing and toss after Thanksgiving :o Hopefully cougar didn't hear that ;D
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Wow that came out really nice! I am liking the way the copper shows through, then softly blends away into the silverplate. I think it works surprisingly well actually. It will look great on the table!
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I really like it as well. We all get a little worn in areas over time....adds character!!! :)
AND some of us have a little more character than others!! LOL
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Yea I like the looks as is, Gives character and shows the age well. Items are hard to sell with plate loss, but family and friends will love it on the table filled with Cranberries. ;)
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Wayward... Thought you'd like to know I ended up going with an orangish bowl. I found a piece of carnival looking glass yesterday at GW and it was translucent orange just like you suggested. It looks good - doesn't fit well but looks great with the silver/copper - far better than the bright orange I had.
You were right ;D
ETA: Ha!! Found it on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/MARIGOLD-CARNIVAL-BOWL-/250728523328?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a6095a640 Think I'm going to have to buy one with ruffles tho... I'm a sucker for wavy glass!
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Hey, great Oceans!
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Here you go Oceans.......shop till you drop!! :D
http://www.rubylane.com/item/50389-vlo2228/Westmorelands-Coin-Dot-Marigold-Carnival
http://www.goantiques.com/detail,marigold-carnival-bowl,264378.html
http://www.replacements.com/webquote/FENACOMC.htm?s1=gbase&4738150&
http://www.rubylane.com/item/612961-S250/Marigold-Carnival-Bowl
http://www.bonanza.com/booths/BLSTreasures/items/Northwood__Rays__Marigold___Carnival_bowl
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LOL - Now that's my kind of shopping!! Thanks Sapphire ;D
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@Oceans64: I'm with you on the wavy glass. It has such a different feel to it than modern glass, doesn't it? Impossible to describe, but it's a distinctly different feel when you hold rolled and pressed glass vs. molded. Love the stuff! Can you take a photo of the two pieces together just for fun? I love seeing everybody's cool stuff, LOL!
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Yeah.. Wavy glass is my fav - esp colored as it catches light so well.
Here is the glass I bought last minute at GW. It's pretty enough but as you can see it doesn't sit well in the basket. I think a wide wavy piece with a shallow bottom (like 2" or so) would look nice. Am thinking I can display my Poupee in it but some of the glass I have seen is almost too pretty to cover up!! LOL
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n494/bwaltier/Carnival%20Glass/CarnivalBowl.jpg)
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n494/bwaltier/Carnival%20Glass/CarnivalBowlwithstand.jpg)
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n494/bwaltier/Carnival%20Glass/CarnivalBowlwithDoll.jpg)
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WOW!! Looks absolutey gorgeous with all the colors in the glass! Will look great on your table!!