About Michelle Lieberman Expertise My expertise is in the area of American sterling silver and coin silver flatware and holloware, including identifying silversmiths and makers, types and patterns of flatware and their usage. I am unable to answer questions pertaining to silverplate or foreign silver.
Experience With over 25 years experience in selling vintage silver, I now devote much of my time educating others in this field.
Education/Credentials BA California State University Los Angeles
Well Hi Michelle~ Here is an image of the markings on the D&H Strawberry Fork. I was confused and interested about this as well, but must say that this is one of the most authentic-looking pieces I have seen of the 'Labors', many being more recent reissues (not reproductions.) Well. Any help is appreciated, and I thank you for your "detective work."
Answer Well that is something! I'm completely stumped. I've got all sorts of info on both companies. Mauser merged with Hays & McFarland Roger Williams in 1903 to become Mount Vernon. Then they bought Knowles and the whole kit n' kaboodle was then bought by Gorham in 1913.
Dominick & Haff was bought by Reed & Barton in 1928. See? No relationship there. They were both located in New York City, so obviously they had a relationship of some sort.
Anyways, I would think that if your piece is stamped with the Mauser name, that it would date from the 1900 issue date up until they changed names to Mount Vernon in 1903.
I agree with what you're getting at about newer issues of old patterns. Most of them just don't cut it. There are only a few silver manufacturers out there, in my opinion, that give a rat's patootie (gotta be nice here) about the quality of their patterns. One is Tiffany & Co. When their dies get too worn down they just destroy them and say "that's all folks." Another, up until about 10 years ago, was Kirk Stieff. Instead of using an old die to create a new one (and thereby losing some of the crispness in the process), they just re-cut a new die, so decade by decade the pattern might be slightly different, but still just as crisp. Since Kirk Stieff was bought by Lifetime Brands (who also owns Wallace, International, Tuttle and Towle), I doubt we'll continue to see the same high quality. Oy, I didn't mean to go on so. :o)
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