Object Number 1962.0240.479

Object Name

Fork

Category

Metals

Credit Line/Donor

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred E. Bissell

Creator (Role)

Robert & William Wilson (Maker)
As per Quimby (See References): Robert Wilson and William Wilson sons of the silversmith WIlliam WIlson (1766-1824) became one of the most important manufacturers of fine silver in Philadelphia. Robert & William Wilson advertised as manufacturers of spoons and silver as well as silverplaters beginining in 1825. Robert was born in about 1796, possibly in Scotland, and died January 22, 1846 in Philadelphia at age 50. He is identified in the Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Monument Cemetery as a silversmith and native of Scotland. His will mentions his wife Catharine, brother William and sister Jane Wilson. (Wills No 1-49, 1846, Case 24, pp. 268-272).

Place of Origin

Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

Date

1835-1845

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Mark; Handle, underside; "R&W.WILSON" stamped in a rectangle
2. Inscription; Handle, underside, end; "ETR" engraved

Materials

Silver

Techniques

Engraved

Dimensions (inches)

7.638 (L) , 0.984 (W) , 1.9401 (Weight)

Dimensions (centimeters)

19.4 (L) , 2.5 (W) , 55 (Weight)

Object Description

Text available soon.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Belden, Louise C. 1980 Marks of American Silversmiths in the Ineson-Bissell Collection. 506 p.
• An illustrated glossary of spoon terms, pp. 467-488
[Book] Belden, Louise C. 1980 Marks of American Silversmiths in the Ineson-Bissell Collection. 506 p.
• Example marks, brief background information, sources, p. 450
[Book] Quimby, Ian M. G. 1995 American Silver at Winterthur.
• Brief biography of makers, p. 466
[Book] Rainwater, Dorothy T. & Redfield, Judy. 1998 Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers. 418 p.
• Background information, p. 374
[Book] Darling, Herbert. 1964 New York State Silversmiths. 228 p.
• Information on Robert Wilson, p. 192
[Book] Quimby, Ian M. G. 1995 American Silver at Winterthur.
• Published: p. 468, no. 499 a-k