American Silver

In this collector's guide, retired chief engraver of the Philadelphia Mint and designer of the reverse side of the American silver eagle bullion coin, John M. Mercanti, details the history and development of the American silver eagles program as well as other U.S. bullion coins and medals.

Introductory essays address issues of authorship, style, use, and scientific analysis as well as the creation of the collection at Winterthur by Henry Francis du Pont. The catalogue portion, arranged alphabetically within the major divisions of New England, New York, and Pennsylvania and the South, is put together with meticulous attention to detail.

The history of American silver offers invaluable insights into the economic and cultural history of the nation itself. Published here for the first time, the Art Institute of Chicago's superb collection embodies innovation and beauty from the colonial era to the present. In the 17th century, silversmiths brought the fashions of their homelands to the colonies, and in the early 18th, new forms arose as technology diversified production. Demand increased in the 19th century as the Industrial Revolution took hold. In the 20th, modernism changed the shape of silver inside and outside the home. This beautifully illustrated volume presents highlights from the collection with stunning photography and entries from leading specialists. In-depth essays relate a fascinating story about eating, drinking, and entertaining that spans the history of the Republic and trace the development of the Art Institute's holdings of American silver over nearly a century.

This volume explores the history and development of the American silver industry. It chronicles the work of firms such as Tiffany, Gorham, Meridan Britannia, and Reed and Barton, along with that of makers such as Whiting, Wendt, Wood and Hughs, Scheibler, and Gale.

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A lavishly illustrated catalogue that is the first to explore the role of modernism in 20th- century American silver design