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| Canadian Silver Tableforks (Pair) - George Savage Montreal (1of2)
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Reference: S11583
Period: George III
Year: 1818-1829
Silversmith: George Savage (1)
Place: Montreal, Quebec
Price: $ 520.00
Weight: 146 grams
Dimensions: 21,2 cm & 20.4 cm
Condition: Good, light scratches from use, small kink to end of one tine.
Description: An interesting pair of early Canadian silver tableforks in the Fiddle pattern, made by George Savage of Montreal, between 1818 and 1829. At first glance they look like a matching pair, but close examination reveals differences in weight and length (one fork is 80 mm longer than the other), so these were clearly made by hand. The length difference is not only in the tines, the handles are different lengths, and the fork handles have small differences in size and shape. Both forks have a clearly engraved family crest of a bird (stork or heron?) holding an anchor, this is engraved on the back of the forks, when forks were placed on the table with tines pointing down. Both forks are clearly hallmarked with makers mark "SAVAGE", but one has lines in the punch, the other does not, so we believe they were struck with 2 different punches. Both are also clearly struck with 2 pseudo English hallmarks, a skinny lion passant and a Georgian duty mark, these are very clear. It is also interesting to note that one duty mark has a domed top punch, the other has an indented punch on the top, so also struck with 2 different punches. The differences in size, weight and hallmarks indicate these 2 forks were made at different times. Careful examination of the engraved crests also show differences, we believe they were engraved by different engravers, so one fork was probably added to the set at a later stage. George Savage was an interesting character, he was born Huddersfield, England in 1767 and served in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He was a skilled watch and clockmaker, and in 1808 registered a patent for a new method of regulatiing watch springs, the patent was enthusiastically adopted by the top end of the watch making trade. Unfortunately in 1816 he was arrested for debt and declared bankrupt in 1817, which led to his emigration to Canada in 1818. He became a watchmaker and major silver retailer in Montreal, his son George joined the business in 1840, becoming Savage & Son. George I died in 1845. George II carried on the business and was joined by his son Joseph, in 1851 his brother-in-law Theodore Lyman joined the business, becoming Savage & Lyman. The business entered bankrupty in 1878 when the British Imperial forces were withdrawn from Montreal, and was acquired by Henry Birks, the founder of Birks & Son, which still exists today - sources John Langdon, Canadian Silversmiths, page 124 (a book we highly recommend) and www.wynyardwilkinson.co.uk. Note - We have a matching pair S 11584, and also some Canadian spoons by Salomon Marion with the same family crest.
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Canadian Silver Tableforks (Pair)
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Canadian Silver Tableforks (Pair) - George Savage
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Canadian silver Savage Montreal
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George Savage Montreal silver hallmarks
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Canadian Silver forks Savage
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