Object Number 2003.0020

Object Name

Spoon (Teaspoon)

Category

Metals

Credit Line/Donor

Gift of Thomas Pickett

Creator (Role)

Israel Trask (Maker)
10/24/1786-1867
Brother of Oliver Trask. Laughin states that Isreal Trask was apprenticed to John W. Ellingwood, a silversmith. Trask bought out Ellingwood's stock in trade in 1807. He was one of the first to begin working with britannia, in 1813 (Laughlin edits his own and Kerfoot's earlier date of 1825 for the beginning of britannia manufacture in volume 3, p.192). Trask's training as a silversmith are apparent in designs and decorations on his pewter. Trask might also be associated with Philip Lee (Laughlin, Pewter in America, 1981, vol.2, pp.114-115; vol.3, pp.191-193). Trask is particularly known for his so-called "lighthouse" teapots. He may have trained his younger brother, Oliver. For more on Israel Trask's marks, see Carl Jacobs, Guide to American Pewter (1957), pp.169-171; C. Jordan Thorn, Handbook of American Silver and Pewter Marks (1949), p.280; Ebert, Collecting American Pewter (1973), p.143; and Montgomery, History of American Pewter (1973), p.227. See also J.B. Kerfoot, American Pewter (1942), pp.148-150.

Place of Origin

New York, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

Date

1815-1830

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Inscription; Handle, upper surface, end; "M.H.M\c/" engraved in script
2. Mark; Handle, underside; "TRASK / PURE-COIN" stamped incuse
3. Mark; Handle, underside; Arm and hammer stamped in clipped corner rectangle
4. Mark; Handle, underside; Crown stamped in clipped corner rectangle
5. Mark; Handle, underside; Rampant gardant lion stamped in clipped corner rectangle

Materials

Silver

Techniques

Engraved

Dimensions (inches)

5.748 (L) , 1.142 (W) , 0.4938 (Weight)

Dimensions (centimeters)

14.6 (L) , 2.9 (W) , 14 (Weight)

Object Description

Text available soon.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Kerfoot, John Barrett. 1942 American Pewter.
• Information on Israel Trask, pp. 148-150
[Book] Montgomery, Charles F. 1973 A History of American Pewter.
• Information on Israel Trask, p. 227
[Book] Laughlin, Ledlie Irwin. 1970 Pewter in America: Its Makers and Their Marks. I thru III.
• Information on Israel Trask, vol. 2 pp. 114-115; vol. 3 pp. 191-913
[Book] Jacobs, Carl. 1957 Guide to American Pewter. 216 p.
• Information on Israel Trask, pp. 169-171
[Book] Thorn, C. Jordan. Handbook of American Silver and Pewter Marks.
• Information on Israel Trask, p. 280
[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