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19th Century American Silver Patterns

Owning silver during the 17th and 18th centuries in America was something mainly reserved for the rich, and was generally imported from England and the rest of Europe. In the 19th century, however, the market for American silver experienced a boom due patriotism, import tariffs, and the Industrial Revolution. American families of all types could afford to have silver in their homes, and the patterns favored during that century encompass a wide range from European and Roman influences to exotic patterns inspired by Japan.

American Federal and Neoclassicism
- The American Federal Era began after the Revolutionary War and carried into the early 19th century. Americans were taking pride in their nation and their patriotism was reflected in the silver of that time. Common pattern motifs included eagles, flags, and military and civic heroes. Overlapping with the Federal era, Neoclassicism also flourished in the beginning of the century. Celebrating classical themes from Rome, Greece, and Egypt, silversmiths often added scrolls, urns, flowers, and mythological creatures to their patterns.
Tariff of 1842
- The Tariff of 1842 was crucial to the development of a thriving silver industry in America. The tariff levied a 30-percent tax on silver imported from other countries. Due to expense, imported silver declined after the tariff, giving American silver companies an advantage in a virtually competition free marketplace. Companies founded prior to the tariff, such as Tiffany &Co. and Gorham, took up the advantage with relish and thrived through the rest of the century and after.
Industrialism and Artistry
- Advances in machinery during the Industrial Revolution not only boosted production of silver, but also affected the artistry of patterns. The amount of time needed for making a piece of silver was greatly shortened by the use of new machines, giving silversmiths more time to concentrate on the design. Also, with a growing public demand for personal silver came a demand for different pattern styles. Revivals of past design periods came and went in the middle of the century as more and more silver was manufactured. The Rococo Revival, among other periods, followed the Neoclassicism of the early part of the century, with heavily ornate designs featuring shells, flowers, and scrolls. By the end of the century, hundreds of patterns were available for sale.
Japanese Influences
- In 1854, the United States made a treaty with Japan, in which the Asian nation opened its ports to American ships. For the first time, the art and culture of Japan was being seen by the American public and silversmiths. Silver patterns in the last part of the century would reflect America's growing fascination with Japanese painting, sculpture, and interior design. An example of this is the Vine Collection, introduced by Tiffany &Co. in 1872. Inspired by the natural motifs of Japan, the pattern offered a variety of fruits, flowers, vegetables, and grains in high-relief.

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