I am, from time to time, asked to help identify and authenticate antique jewelry.
Although this is not really my area of expertise, these inquiries are always of interest to me; being a bit of a history buff in general and the history of jewelry and the crafts specifically, is, not surprisingly, one of my very favorite subjects.
Not long ago I received an e-mail asking for help authenticating a medal that if it is original, dates from the American Revolution. Any military medal from the Revolution would be facinating – but this medal is linked to the capture of the infamous Benedict Arnold – a story of politics, intrigue and betrayal.
Below is the original inquiry, copied with the author’s permission, and my responses.
Dear Mr. West,
My name is John Paulding Farnham 111 and I am the great grandson of the jewelry designer Paulding Farnham of Tiffany fame. I have been in the process of researching a particular family related artifact for the past year and I am in need of a recommendation to an 18h century metal specialist in order to determine if the artifact was produced by the use of the repose process or if it was produced in solid silver. Let me be more specific as I am sure by now you are interested but skeptical. The family history goes back to pre revolutionary war. My name sake, Major John Paulding , was awarded the Fidelity Medal for is capture o Major Andre and the exposure of the Benedict Arnold conspiracy, (there are many links to research the topic an quick Google search will fill you in on the story). I have attached one such link and two pictures of the medal.
In short I have inherited a Medal which is in every way identical to the original which has a history of being in and out of the families hands through out the years. I have been in contact with a couple of auctioneers that have put the burden on me to do the research on the medal and to definitively prove that it is the original and not one of the two original copies of the medal, that where produced for Major Paulding’s second and third eldest sons. In my search I have found the only true description of the medal, (the link is provided above), in which it state that the original medal was produced by the use of the repose process. I have been searching the internet for a professional in the field of jewelry that may be able to examine and or test the medal in order to prove one way or another if the piece I own was produced by the use of repose or if it is a solid silver piece.
I apologize fro the long winded explanation, but its not you average request and I wanted to explain in detail my situation in hopes that at the very least you may be able to connect me with a colleague that could help me in my research and authentication.
Regards, JP Farnham
Hello JP,
Thanks for e-mailing me – what a great story! I am actually familiar with the capture of Major Andre - being a bit of an American history buff.
I certainly can be of help in identifying the techniques (repousse’ – shaping the metal from the back of the piece and chasing – the same from the front and would be used for finer details) used to make the medal, if it is a two part piece or if it is a single casting – all easy enough.
To give the authentication the “weight” needed , however, you need more than the identification of the processes used to make the metal – many jewelry making techniques were already ancient in the 18th century and are still used today virtually unchanged for thousands of years.
You need, as you have already suggested, an expert in the identifying characteristics of work done in the later 18th century as well as one familiar with what to look for in spotting a forgery done at a later date. Unfortunately I do not personally know of someone who would have these credentials.
The best place for you to look, and I am happy to help if you wish, would be museums and possibly universities that have collections of early American jewelry, hollowware and flatware.
Although this may sound a little “out there” this may be the kind of thing that would be of interest to PBS’s History Detectives – you have a great story to tell, they do the foot work and you get some publicity that can’t hurt if you are trying to sell the medal.
If I can be of further help please let me know – I find this fascinating and would like to be a part of the process. Also – could I post this e-mail on my blog? It may be of some help.
Take Care, Dave
David W. Nytch, CGA www.westandcompany.com
Comments