4 Pcs. East TN Coin Silver, incl. Samuel Bell & Cain
Four (4) pieces of coin silver attributed to East Tennessee, including makers Samuel Bell, Thomas Cain, and William Hilliard. 1st-2nd items: Two (2) tablespoons with tipt handles and rounded fins, stamped S. BELL in rectangles for Samuel Bell, b. 1797-d. 1881, working Knoxville, TN 1819-1852 and later,Texas, including one (1) monogrammed M.A. Stith and one (1) monogrammed "WP". 8 3/4" L. Note: According to "Tennessee Silversmiths" by Dr. Benjamin H. Caldwell, Jr., this mark is among those used by Bell during the time he worked in Knoxville (see p. 33, mark 35a). Bell also served two terms as Knoxville's mayor before migrating to Texas. 3rd item: Dessert spoon with plain fiddle handle, stamped CAIN in rectangle, flanked by 2 Masonic emblems (Thomas Cain, working Knoxville, 1809-1813, ref. Tennessee Silversmiths p. 46), not monogrammed. 6 3/4" L. 4th item: Tablespoon, plain fiddle handle, stamped HILLIARD in rectangle, attrib. to William Hilliard, monogrammed JWH. 9" L. Note: "Tennessee Silversmiths" lists Hilliard working Fayetteville, NC in 1801; he was working in Jonesboro, Tennessee in 1804 but by Dec. 1805 had returned to North Carolina, where he remained until at least 1814. Combined weight: 7.02 oz troy.
Private Southern Collection.
Condition Report: One Bell spoon has significant loss to end of bowl. Hilliard spoon also has loss to end of bowl. Other pieces with minor light denting, very good condition.
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Four (4) pieces of coin silver attributed to East Tennessee, including makers Samuel Bell, Thomas Cain, and William Hilliard. 1st-2nd items: Two (2) tablespoons with tipt handles and rounded fins, stamped S. BELL in rectangles for Samuel Bell, b. 1797-d. 1881, working Knoxville, TN 1819-1852 and later,Texas, including one (1) monogrammed M.A. Stith and one (1) monogrammed "WP". 8 3/4" L. Note: According to "Tennessee Silversmiths" by Dr. Benjamin H. Caldwell, Jr., this mark is among those used by Bell during the time he worked in Knoxville (see p. 33, mark 35a). Bell also served two terms as Knoxville's mayor before migrating to Texas. 3rd item: Dessert spoon with plain fiddle handle, stamped CAIN in rectangle, flanked by 2 Masonic emblems (Thomas Cain, working Knoxville, 1809-1813, ref. Tennessee Silversmiths p. 46), not monogrammed. 6 3/4" L. 4th item: Tablespoon, plain fiddle handle, stamped HILLIARD in rectangle, attrib. to William Hilliard, monogrammed JWH. 9" L. Note: "Tennessee Silversmiths" lists Hilliard working Fayetteville, NC in 1801; he was working in Jonesboro, Tennessee in 1804 but by Dec. 1805 had returned to North Carolina, where he remained until at least 1814. Combined weight: 7.02 oz troy.
Private Southern Collection.
Condition Report: One Bell spoon has significant loss to end of bowl. Hilliard spoon also has loss to end of bowl. Other pieces with minor light denting, very good condition.
