Stieff Pewter: The Williamsburg Restoration Pieces

The Art of the Pewterer reached its height during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. From the many fine examples of eighteenth century Pewterer's Work which are displayed in the Exhibition Buildings of Colonial Williamsburg, a number of outstanding pieces were been selected for reproduction. These Reproductions were manufactured by the skilled craftsmen of The Stieff Company and proudly bear the hallmark of Williamsburg Restoration, Incorporated. Pewter was in use throughout the American Colonies, and its use was by no means confined to the poorer classes. Records indicate that the aristocratic planters and even the royal governors made use of fine pewter pieces in their households. Fashionable taverns like the Raliegh prided themselves on their excellent pewter service.

The ATC Mark: ATC was the mark of the American Pewter Guild. The guild was founded in 1958. The ATC mark is to pewter what Sterling is to silver. Made of tin, antimony and copper, fine pewter contains NO LEAD. Pieces made prior to 1958 will not carry the ATC mark.

    A Beautiful Find is proud to present a collection of Williamsburg pieces by Stieff Pewter. The company was purchased by Lenox, and more recently by Department 56, and the association with Colonial Williamsburg has been severed. These pieces are no longer in production.

Pictured in order from the top are a pair of Chambersticks. each features a push-up mechanism to release the candle or old wax from the holder.

Looking like a big salt shaker, the Muffineer was used in colonial times to sprinkle powdered sugar on muffins and scones. It stands 7" tall.

To the right are a pair of salt bowls with salt spoons.

Of the 3 cups pictured, the larger is called a Jigger and the smaller are Cordial cups.

At left is a Porringer, for serving porridge.

Below that is a Sugar scoop.

The tall coffeepot is the only piece not marked Williamsburg. This pot carries the ATC mark mentioned above.

And finally, a beautiful 3 piece coffee/tea set with Rosewood handles.

You can click on the photos to enlarge for a closer look.

Be sure to visit the shop to view these classic pewter pieces in person.

Louis & Francoise Moreau Lamps

New this month is this incredible pair of hand-painted French spelter metal lamps. Each one is signed L&F Moreau, and marked with a seal that reads "Collection Francaise". Brothers Louis Auguste and Hippolyte Francois Moreau, part of the Moreau family of sculptors from Dijon, France. Louis worked in bronze and metal sculpture while Francois was a painter and sculptor. They collaborated on many, many highly ornate and detailed decorative pieces in the Art Nouveau era, mostly lamps and clocks, and signed their pieces “L & F Moreau”. This pair features a boy and a girl, each holding a rose and posed next to a pillar, out of which extend the lamps. Each has four candleabra style bulbs surrounded by fluted glass shades. Thes lamps were brought into the shop by an elderly couple who purchased them about 46 years ago (mid-1960s) in New York City. While both lamps are in remarkable condition, each suffers from some paint loss, due to their recently being kept in an attic. The boy lamp is almost flawless, but does show paint loss and paint cracking on the front leg. The girl lamp exhibits more paint loss mostly on the back of the figure and on the pillar. While the orginal artists were French, the lamps are marked with a seal that reads "Collection Francaise, Made in USA."

Collection Francaise USA is a company founded by J.B. Hirsh. The original molds for 300 pieces of French Bronze were disasembled during World War and hidden, to keep out of Nazi hands. After the war Mr. Hirsh went to Europe and bought them and brought them to America and reasembled them and started  a company called Collection Francaise.

The name J.B. Hirsch dates back to 1907 when Rumanian émigré Joseph Hirsch and his son Abraham purchased the moulds from a French foundry that was supplying "French Bronzes" to Hirsch’s company, The New York Bronze Works. Hirsch and his son renamed their company J.B. Hirsch Company and became the first American company to produce "French Bronzes" here. Continuing to purchase from other French Foundries, styles including Beaux Arts, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco, the company met the demand of changing styles and during the 1930’s J. B. Hirsch adapted "French Bronze" statuary in the manufacture of portable lamps.

Each lamp weighs over 25 pounds. They are priced at $1800 for the pair.