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  • Rare Civil War Period Id’d Sterling Silver Collapsible Cup in Original Moroccan Leather Covered Case – Created by Noted New York Silversmiths Wm. Gale & Son

Rare Civil War Period Id’d Sterling Silver Collapsible Cup in Original Moroccan Leather Covered Case – Created by Noted New York Silversmiths Wm. Gale & Son

$295

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Rare Civil War Period Id’d Sterling Silver Collapsible Cup in Original Moroccan Leather Covered Case – Created by Noted New York Silversmiths Wm. Gale & Son – We have had several collapsible / traveling drinking cups in the last few years, but this is the first sterling silver example we have encountered. This finely executed cup, housed in its original, finely tooled, Moroccan leather carrying case, which is lined in burgundy red velvet, retains the silversmith’s mark on the bottom of the cup, indicating the silver to be sterling and the maker to be Wm. Gale and Son of New York. Additionally, the interior of the lid of the case is gold embossed, on pale green silk, with the following:

“BROADWAY. COR. BROOME ST.

WM GALE & SON

NEW YORK

SILVERSMITHS”

Born in the late 18th century, William Gale was a well-established silversmith in New York City, by the early 1820s; after working in numerous partnerships, he established a silversmithing business with his son, in 1850, working as “Wm. Gale & Son” until his death in 1867. This cup, seemingly a gift given to James H. Prentice on Jan. 1, 1863, is finely crafted and decoratively engraved. In a panel on one side of the cup is engraved:

“Jas. H. Prentice.

Jany. 1st 1863.”

James H. Prentice was a 44-year-old hatter, living in Brooklyn, NY, at the onset of the Civil War; he registered for the draft in 1863, but apparently, in deference to his age, did not serve in the Union army. The cup and carrying case remain in excellent condition.

James H Prentice – U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865

Name: James H Prentice
Race: White
Age: 44
Birth Year: 1819
Birth Place: New York
Residence Date: 1 Jul 1863
Residence Place: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Congressional District: 3rd

 

 
                               Name: James H Prentice
Age: 73
Birth Year: 1818

– 1 year
Death Date: 24 Apr 1891
Death Place: Kings, New York

 

HISTORY AND MARKS
The business has a long chronology, maintaining the Gale family at its center for about fifty years:
Gale & Stickler (William Gale & John Stickler) 1822-1823
John L. & W. Gale 1825-1827
Gale & Moseley ((William Gale & Joseph Moseley) 1828-1833
Gale, Wood & Huges (Wm Gale, Jacob Wood and Jasper W. Hughes) 1833-1845
Gale & Hayden (William Gale %amp; Nathaniel Hayden) 1845-1849
William Gale, Son & Co 1850-1853
William Gale & Son 1853-1859
Gale & Willis (William Gale & John R. Willis, Gale’s son-in-law) 1859-1865
William Gale & Son 1862-1866
William Gale Jr. 1866
William Gale Jr. & Co 1867-1868
Dominick & Corning (James W. Dominick & Edward Corning (1867
Gale, North & Dominick (H.B. Dominick ) 1868-1869
Gale & Corning (Edward Corning ) 1869-1870
Gale, Dominick & Haff (H.B. Dominick & Leroy B. Haff) 1870-1872
Dominick & Haff 1872-1928
Purchased by Reed & Barton 1928

The founder of the firm was William Gale (1799-1867) who invented and patented in 1826 a process for making spoons with ornamental patterns by cutting the ornament on rollers, both the upper and the lower rollers being cut with the pattern. This made the production of pattern spoons much less expensive than the former method of hand hammering patterns by the use of dies.
William Gale was succeeded in the business by his son William Gale Jr. (1825-1885) who, after few years, ceased the control of the firm to H.B. Dominick & Leroy B. Haff until 1928 when the business was purchased by Reed & Barton.

William Gale – Silversmith

  • Born: 5 Apr 1799, Goshen NY
  • Marriage (1): Frances Doty
  • Died: 20 Dec 1867, Brooklyn NY

General notes:

Silversmith

Events in his life were:

·       Apprenticed: John and Peter Targee, circa 1815-1821, in New York City NY.

·       Partnership: John Stickler, in 1821-1822, in New York City NY. As GALE & STICKLER,

having bought the shop of his former masters, John and Peter Targee at 29 Liberty Street.

·       Partnership: John Lee Gale, in 1826, in New York City NY. As J. L. & W. GALE, listed at

112 Fulton Street.

·       Partnership: Joseph Mosely, in 1828-1833, in New York City NY. As GALE & MOSELY.

·       Partnership: Jacob Wood and Jasper Ward Hughes, in 1835-1845, in New York City NY.

As GALE, WOOD & HUGHES

·       Partnership: Nathaniel Hayden, in 1846-1850, in New York City NY. As GALE &

·       He appeared on the census in 1850 in New York City NY. Listed as a silver manufacturer.

·       Partnership: William Gale, in 1852-1858, in New York City NY. As WILLIAM GALE & SON.

·       Partnership: John R. Willis, in 1859-1862, in New York City NY. As GALE & WILLIS

·       Partnership: William Gale, in 1863-1866, in New York City NY. As WILLIAM GALE & SON.

 

 

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