Sterling Silver Crumber in a "Kings" pattern, George Sharp for Bailey and Co., Philadelphia, PA, Circa 1865
SOLD
Engraved "MM" for Mary Hampton Manning, daughter of South Carolina Governor John Laurence Manning
Directories list Irish born George Sharp working in Philadelphia as early as 1850 working as a silver and jewelry maker. His talents caught the eye of Bailey and Company, and Sharp entered into an exclusive relationship with the prestigious firm just a few years later. This lasted until 1866, when he ventured on his own. By 1870, Sharp had $75,000 in capital, forty-five employees, and produced over $100,000 in wares. The firm, however, did not survive the The Panic of 1873, and failed a year later.
Sharp is known for his craftsmanship and brilliant designs, and his works are collected by many internationally recognized museums like the Winterthur Museum, The Georgia Museum of Art, the Yale University Art Gallery and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The Mannings preferred silver in the "Kings" pattern and enlisted the services of various makers. The flatware tends to have distinctive elements. This crumber is no exception, with its wriggle-work engraving incorporated in the shell and tooling down the handle sides.
Provenance: Acquired from a Manning descendant. Mary Hampton Manning (1843-1905) was the daughter of Gov. John Laurence Manning (1816-1889) and his wife, Susan Frances Hampton (1816-1845). Mary married Major Henry Burchill Richardson at the bride's home of Millford Plantation in 1869.
Condition note: There is a 1/4" long split in the rim of the crumber ledge.
13" length, 2 1/2" width. 5.14 troy ounces.
