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RARE Charles H. Weisgerber Sterling Silver Liberty Bell Spoon by Chas M. Robbins

Description: *****See my other auctions for more great historic & related items!***** Charles H. Weisgerber’s painting, "Birth of Our Nation’s Flag", popularized the story of George Washington, accompanied by two representatives of Congress, Colonel George Ross (Betsy’s uncle) and Robert Morris, visiting Mrs. Ross in 1776. They brought with them a drawing of what they wanted the flag to look like, and Betsy suggested five points instead of six for the stars.Weisgerber, born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, studied art and sculpture. In 1892, he was in Philadelphia, looking for a subject to paint for a contest, when he saw a sign on a cigar store at 239 Arch Street, the site of the upholstery shop where Ross had created the Stars and Stripes.Thus inspired, the artist set to work and completed his masterpiece in 1893. The 9-foot-by-12-foot canvas shows the seamstress presenting the Stars and Stripes to Washington, Ross and Morris. No portraits of Betsy Ross existed, so Weisgerber drew her likeness from pictures of her granddaughters. The painting won the $1000 contest prize and created a sensation at its appearance at the 1893 Columbian Exhibition in Chicago and in its travels across the nation.RARE Charles H. Weisgerber Sterling Silver Liberty Bell Spoon by Chas M. Robbins CHAS M. ROBBINS - Attleboro, MAFounded in 1892 by Charles M. Robbins. In 1912 Robbins Company was formed and in 1963 became a subsidiary of Continental Communications Corporation.Charles May Robbins (1856-1929) founded the Chas M. Robbins Company in 1892 and ran it for the next 18 years. Having become wealthy, he retired from it in 1910. In 1904, CMR was joined by Ralph Thompson, who took over the company in 1910. In 1912 the company renamed itself to Robbins Company.In 2007 the Robbins Company merged with the Tharpe Company to form TharpeRobbins, which renamed itself to Engage2Excel in 2015.The Robbins Company struck many beautiful medals in the first half of the 20th century. (Below image for reference only - Not For Sale) In 1888 Charles Henry Weisgerber submitted a work of art to qualify for a scholarship to the Paris Conservatory of Art. His sculpture titled “Woman with the Broken Bucket” won him study abroad. In 1892, he returned home with a challenge by his fellow students that they would enter a contest to submit a piece of art representing the city of Philadelphia for an exhibit at the upcoming Columbia Exposition in Chicago. I read and have been told of Charles seeing a small plaque on the side wall of a cigar shop or in the window at 239 Arch Street that read, “In this building the first American Flag was made or the first flag of the USA was sewn here.” I have also been told that the building had also been a tavern at one time. So Charles heard the story that had passed down and was still being told by descendents of Betsy Ross. William Canby, a grandson of Betsy Ross had presented the family tales and affidavits to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in 1870. Born January 1st, 1752, she was 24 years of age in 1776 when the flag committee of The Continental Congress paid her little upholstery shop a visit to ask her if she would make a flag. Charles had his painting idea, a depiction of Betsy Ross presenting George Washington, Robert Morris and George Ross with the first American Flag. Betsy’s supposed contribution is the five pointed star made with one snip of the scissors. He compiled the individual pictures and likeness for a scene in the front room of her shop. The painting “Birth of our Nation’s Flag” won first prize and the one thousand dollar award. The painting hung in the Pennsylvania Pavilion, where it was well received at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.Charles returned to Philadelphia with a plan to save the house at 239 Arch Street, since most of the neighborhood was being torn down for new structures. Charles thought to make lithograph copies of his painting and sell the copies for 10 cents to two million people to raise the money needed to purchase the property and restore the building that is now known as the Betsy Ross House. With his idea and the help of others for promotion and financing, they formed the American Flag House and Betsy Ross Memorial. The historic landmark did not start out the way it looks today. An adjacent building was purchased and removed for a courtyard to the Betsy Ross House. In 1899 Charles and his wife and daughter moved into the house and it became known as the First Flag House because the lithographer, who loved history, kept telling everyone that he lived in the house where the first American Flag was sewn. While Charles Henry ran a gift shop, he continued to tell the story to the tourists and children who came to the house until his death in 1932. After extensive renovations, the home was reopened in 1939.The painting, a 9 foot by 12 foot oil on canvass was exhibited in Sacramento, California in 1896, at the Jamestown Exposition in 1907, at the Chicago World Fair in 1934, with the Liberty Bell, and at the State Library and Museum in Harrisburg from 1936 until 1962. It was depicted on a 1952 three cent US Postal stamp commemorating the 200th anniversary of Betsy Ross’s birth. The painting underwent extensive restoration in 2001 with the help and support from numerous Weisgerbers and friends and with the help of Historic Philadelphia, Inc. On November 28, 2001, ceremonies honoring the Birth of a Nation’s Flag, a gift from the Weisgerber family, were held at the State Museum of Pennsylvania where it now hangs due in large part to the efforts of a family friend, Winchell Carroll. In his biography, Charles Weisgerber wrote of the closing of the Roll of Honor with approximately two million names recorded. This completed what may justly be termed the most unique and unparalleled human record in the history of the world. Description:Amazingly rare possibly one-of-a-kind (since no others on entire internet or in books I searched) Charles H. Weisgerber sterling silver spoon that was made by the Chas. M. Robbins silver company. The hallmarks are earlier for that company so this spoon may date pretty close to Weisgerber's return to Philadelphia from the Columbian Expo in 1893-94 where he won first prize for his famous Betsy Ross American Flag painting. I think these same hallmarks were used by Robbins in to the 1920's but not exactly sure. Included here with the spoon is a beautiful plate block of the 1952 stamps in Mint unused NH condition with full gum on reverse. The spoon & stamps display perfectly together!!! See all the fascinating history above to understand this spoon. Weisgerber's famous painting was actually exhibited at one time with the Liberty Bell, so that makes this spoon even more special. Clearly he commissioned the Robbins Company to make this spoon specially for him. I know of no others to exist so not many (or no others) were made specifically for him. Weisgerber did make a heroic effort to raise money to restore & save the Betsy Ross house in Philadelphia so perhaps this spoon represented one of his fund raising ideas...just a guess. Bottom line -- the spoon boldly & prominently has his name on it. The sterling silver spoon is in beautiful flawless condition with no visible age or usage wear & not fully polished. Measures 5.5" (inches) long.EXCELLENT CONDITIONCASTING IS CRISP, MARKINGS ARE CLEAN, DETAILING IS SUPERB ~~EXCELLENT ESTATE CONDITION~~~ BEAUTIFULLY SHAPED AND CONTOUREDPLEASE EXAMINE PICTURES FOR EXACT CONDITION PLEASE CONSIDER SURFACE MARKS AND MILD SCRATCHES FROM AGE, CONTACT, USAGE, AND HANDLING APPROX. MEAS. 5.5" LONG WEIGHT APPROX 12.03 grams IMPRESS STAMPED AND MARKED THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONAL AND BEAUTIFUL QUALITY PERIOD STERLING SILVER SPOON ...FRESH TO THE MARKET AND ESTATE DIRECT... FOR COMBINED SHIPPING ON MULTIPLE PURCHASES - PLEASE ADD TO CART & "REQUEST TOTAL FROM SELLER". Payment must be made within 3 days of purchase. Please see attached pics & make all inquiries prior to purchasing. Please see my other listings for more Designer STERLING & other great vintage jewelry & perfumes.

Price: 30 USD

Location: Mentor, Ohio

End Time: 2024-10-07T21:35:13.000Z

Shipping Cost: 6 USD

Product Images

RARE Charles H. Weisgerber Sterling Silver Liberty Bell Spoon by Chas M. RobbinsRARE Charles H. Weisgerber Sterling Silver Liberty Bell Spoon by Chas M. RobbinsRARE Charles H. Weisgerber Sterling Silver Liberty Bell Spoon by Chas M. RobbinsRARE Charles H. Weisgerber Sterling Silver Liberty Bell Spoon by Chas M. RobbinsRARE Charles H. Weisgerber Sterling Silver Liberty Bell Spoon by Chas M. RobbinsRARE Charles H. Weisgerber Sterling Silver Liberty Bell Spoon by Chas M. Robbins

Item Specifics

All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted

Style: Arts & Crafts/Mission Style

Age: c.1994-1926

Pattern: 1776 Philadelphia Liberty Bell

Type: Spoon

Composition: Sterling Silver

Brand: Chas. M. Robbins

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