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Many of the best American Arts & Crafts silversmiths came from Scandinavia, and the influence of these Northern European artisans on the movement was profound.  At the Kalo Shop, chief designer Yngve Olsson was Danish and mainstay Daniel Pedersen was Norwegian.  Julius Randahl, who worked at the Kalo Shop and later started his own business, was Swedish.  Many Chicago silver designs were in "the Danish taste" and the Kalo Shop even tried producing a Scandinavian-inspired group of items it called the Norse Line.  Knut Gustafson, who worked with Randahl, Jarvie, Lebolt, and the TC Shop was Swedish, and named one of his patterns "Nordic."  John C. Petterson, who made many of Jarvie's celebrated candlesticks and later formed The Petterson Studio, was Norwegian.  

 

Talented Scandinavian craftsmen moved to Chicago in large numbers at the turn of the century, spurred on by silversmith guilds in their native countries "so fearful of having a surplus of trained people that they even secured funds to help the most promising young apprentices emigrate to America," according to Kalo's Robert Bower [Darling, p. 91].

 

Peer Smed in his workshop

Peer Smed in his workshop

 

One of the very best Scandinavian masters settled in New York rather than Chicago.   Peer Smed (born Peer Schmidt) was born in 1878 in Copenhagen, the son of a blacksmith. He became an expert metalcrafter and produced objects somewhat in the Jensen style but with characteristic touches that clearly marked them as his.  Smed designed household pieces for the royal families of Denmark and Sweden, who awarded him medals for artistry. 

 

When he was 25, Smed visited America for four years.  In 1909, after returning briefly to Denmark, he moved permanently to Brooklyn, NY where he started his own art studio at 176 Johnson Street.  Smed worked there for the rest of his life, creating handmade objects in a variety of different metals.    His obituary spoke of his honors "as a gold carver, a silversmith and as a designer of iron grilles."  He was also proficient in copper and bronze.

 

Peer Smed

Peer Smed -- one of America's finest metalsmiths -- is finally

beginning to receive the attention and praise he is due

 

During his lifetime, he exhibited his work at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and galleries in New York and San Francisco. Smed produced the elaborate bronze doors designed by William Zorach for the entrance to the Schwarzenbach Building in New York City, and created silver designs for Tiffany and Company.  He fashioned decorative iron work for several New York restaurants, as well as designs for the homes of Lucius M. Boomer, former managing director of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, and William Knudsen, CEO of General Motors.  In conjunction with the well-known designer William Stark, he created the flatware and holloware for the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in 1932.  His work is currently held in the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago as well as several private galleries and collections around the country.

 

A 1937 Brooklyn Museum of Art contemporary industrial and handwrought silver exhibition highlighted Smed's work and featured a step-by-step photograph illustrating how he fabricated his distinctive flatware in its catalog.  The Smed coffee service and basket below were showcased in this exhibition. 

 

Coffee Service by Peer Smed from the 1937 Brooklyn Museum of Art contemporary industrial and handwrought silver exhibition

Coffee Service by Peer Smed from the 1937 Brooklyn Museum of Art

contemporary industrial and handwrought silver exhibition

 

Basket by Peer Smed from the 1937 Brooklyn Museum of Art contemporary industrial and handwrought silver exhibition

Basket by Peer Smed from the 1937 Brooklyn Museum of Art

contemporary industrial and handwrought silver exhibition

 

He and his wife Helga Kjior or Kior (1876-1964) also of Copenhagen, had five children:  Lona Schaeffer (b. 1903), Dan Smed (1907-1951), Alice Smed (1910-1928), Ellen Oberg (1911-1971), and Elsie Lowry (1917-1997).   Alice died at the age of 18.

 

Peer Smed's daughters Ellen, Lona, and Elsie

Smed's daughters Ellen and Lona (back row) and Elsie (front)

 

Peer Smed's daughter Alice, who died at the age of 18

Daughter Alice, who died at the age of 18

 

Dan Smed with the family capuchin monkey, Goo Goo (a beloved pet who had his own room).

Dan Smed with the family capuchin monkey, Goo Goo (a beloved pet who had his own room)

 

Peer trained both his eldest daughter Lona, and his son Dan as silversmiths.   Lona became a highly-regarded silversmith and made silver flatware and holloware with her own LPS mark for upscale New York retailers throughout the 1940s.   Dan was building up a business making jewelry for Hollywood celebrities when he died suddenly in 1951.  Peer Smed died in 1943 at the age of 65.  [We are grateful for information and images provided by the Smed family.]

 

Smed with daughter Lona Schaeffer in the workshop

Smed with daughter Lona in the workshop.  Notice the plaque on the wall behind her (see below).

Smed worked in a wide range of metals, from copper to silver to iron to bronze.

 

Large (16" W and 23" H and 3" deep) copper plaque entitled “Conscience” by Peer Smed.

Large (16" W and 23" H and 3" deep) copper plaque entitled “Conscience” by Peer Smed.  

According to the family, his wife Helga posed for the portrait.  See similar object on wall in photo above.

 

"Conscience," the striking plaque above (also seen on the wall behind daughter Lona in the photograph of Peer and Lona in his workshop) shows a more realistic and dramatic side of Smed's work.  Wife Helga (below) is said to have been the model, although she is far more attractive and less severe in this photo:

 

Peer Smed's wife Helga

Peer Smed's wife Helga

 

Dan was working with his father in 1934 when he married Alice, a woman he had met at the Art Students' League in New York City.   As there was not enough work to support two families, Dan accepted an offer from Edward H. Bohlin, "Saddlemaker to the Stars," to do silversmithing and engraving, and in 1939 moved to Hollywood.

 

At the start of WW II, Dan left Bohlin's and became a welder at the Todd Shipyard in San Pedro, California.  After the war ended, he returned to jewelry-making for Alan Adler and Trabert & Hoeffer in Hollywood.  In early 1950, he opened his own shop on North Canon Drive in Beverly Hills, making jewelry for wealthy clients.  Unfortunately, a little over a year later, in March 1951, he died of congestive heart failure before he could build up his reputation for skilled and artfully created fine jewelry.

 

Dan's daughter remembers that her father often worked on pieces in his home shop.  One in particular was a grosgrain ribbon made entirely of delicate strands of platinum for 40s Marion Davies, actress and mistress to William Randolph Hearst.  The ribbon was said to be so finely worked that it moved like fabric.  Dan had brought it home to add a large, beautiful diamond Miss Davies had chosen as a fastener where the two ribbon ends crossed at the throat. 

 

Peer Smed's son Dan dabbled in metalwork and produced pieces, most of which are privately held.

Smed's son Dan also produced fine metalwork.  Most of his pieces are privately held.

 

Large hammered copper bowl by Peer Smed's son Dan

Large (9-inch) hammered copper bowl by Dan Smed

 

Peer Smed's silver is gaining in popularity.  At a 2007 Sotheby's sale, several substantial objects brought record prices.  A 1935 four-piece coffee set (teapot, coffee pot, creamer and covered sugar) on a remarkable 26" tray with large jack-in-the-pulpit blossoms incorporated into the handles sold for $18,000.   A 1935 asymmetrical baluster-form covered pitcher "supported on lobed foot and short openwork stem chased as leaves, berries and vines, the loop handle wrapped with beaded tendrils and capped with leaves and tendril" went for over $10,000.  A 1935 tazza, "with flared undulating rim, supported by stem formed as erect leaves and beaded tendrils and capped by openwork clusters of small overlapping leaves, all on partially octagonal stepped domed circular foot" brought more than $11,000.

 

Smed's copper objects are mostly in private collections.  Below is a small triple dragon round medallion, just 3 inches wide, but hammered with meticulous attention to detail.  Notice the unusual "PS" stamp:

 

Peer Smed small copper triple dragon medallion

Smed small copper triple dragon medallion

 

Smed was also a masterful carver.  Apart from working in metals such as silver and gold, he also tried his hand at ivory.  Here's a rare Smed ivory cane-top:

 

Ivory cane handle carved by Peer Smed

Ivory cane handle carved by Peer Smed

 

Smed used heavy-gauge silver, and made frequent use of floral motifs, notably lilies and jack-in-the-pulpit blossoms, in high relief and lifelike dimensional form.  He began adding stamped dates to many of his better works in the 1930s, a period when silver purchases began to decline in the belt-tightening years of the Depression.

 

Smed's holloware is often dramatic, with much ornamentation in the Danish taste, while his jewelry is usually lifelike, simpler, and well-executed.  In some ways it is reminiscent of jewelry by Friedell.  Compare the wonderfully made poppy pin by Smed below with a similar one by Friedell:

 

Peer Smed brooch / pin, very large, in the form of a detailed poppy, with folded over chased blossoms, stamen and stems. Extremely heavy, dimensional, and well-made

 

Even the back of this pin is handsome, even though only part of it can be seen protruding past the flower on the front:

 

Peer Smed brooch / pin, very large, in the form of a detailed poppy, with folded over chased blossoms, stamen and stems. Extremely heavy, dimensional, and well-made -- shown from the back

 

The pin is extremely large and heavy and dimensional.  It looks as if he created a realistic round poppy blossom and then flattened it for the piece.  Other flower pins show the same construction with blossoms resting on leaves:

 

Peer Smed's hand-chased floral jewelry is heavy, dimensional, and beautifully detailed

Smed's hand-chased floral jewelry is heavy, dimensional, and beautifully detailed

 

Smed made both handwrought jewelry, where he crafted entire pieces by hand, and hand-chased objects like the ones above that he first cast, and then worked extensively by hand.

 

Peer Smed at work. His pieces ranged from small pins and brooches to large, impressive plaques and doors.

Smed at work.  His pieces ranged from small pins and brooches to large, impressive plaques and doors.

 

While most Arts & Crafts metalsmiths who created jewelry incorporated stones or cameos in their jewelry, Smed did not.  His pieces are so beautifully worked that the precious metal itself, with gilded or patinated details, provides all the highlights, contrast, and focus needed.  And while certain pieces such as his rings could be large and heavy, he also produced delicate objects that were more feminine, like the ring shown here on his daughter Elsie:

 

Elsie Smed Lowry, Peer Smed's youngest daughter, in a modeling shot. The ring is by her father.

Elsie Smed Lowry, Smed's youngest daughter, in a modeling shot.  The ring is by her father (see closeup below).

 

Closeup of ring worn by Elsie Smed Lowry, Peer Smed's youngest daughter, in a modeling shot.

Closeup of ring from the photo above

 

Most of the jewelry we've seen is in the form of smaller pieces such as rings and pins.  However, the Smed necklaces below are larger scale.  And his trademark jack-in-the-pulpit pins ranged from 2-1/2 inches to massive and heavy versions almost twice that size.

 

Peer Smed necklace, silver, composed of ten links formed in the shape of raised leaves with circular accents, centering a slightly larger pentagonal pendant in similar decoration

Necklace, silver, by Peer Smed, composed of ten links in the shape of raised

leaves with circular accents, centering a slightly larger  pendant

 

Necklace, silver, composed of 16 leaf-form links each with a stem that curves around and forms a loop, centering a large pointed oval plaque with chased fuchsia blossoms and leaves. Plaque is heavy and dimensional. Long thin interesting clasp with applied curving decoration.

Necklace, silver, by Peer Smed, composed of 16 leaf-form links centering

a large pointed oval plaque with chased fuchsia blossoms and leaves.

 

Some of Smed's smaller pieces, like the salt set below, resemble his jewelry.

 

Individual leaf-form footed salts and shovel-form salt spoons by Peer Smed

Individual leaf-form footed salts and shovel-form salt spoons.

 

Work by Smed's daughter Lona is sometimes hard to distinguish from that of her father without turning it over to look for her LPS mark. 

 

Server, very large, with lily and leaf ornament, by Peer Smed's daughter Lona P. Schaeffer

Server, very large, with lily and leaf ornament, by Smed's daughter Lona P. Schaeffer, very much in the style of her father

 

Peer Smed server, massive, with pointed arrowhead-form trowel-like blade

Like father, like daughter.  Server, very large, with lily and leaf ornament, by Peer Smed

 

Some of Lona's work has a softer, curving, slightly feminine aspect:

 

Serving knife, large and heavy, by Peer Smed's daughter Lona P. Schaeffer

Serving knife, large and heavy, by Smed's daughter Lona P. Schaeffer

 

To see a Smed salad set with similar ornament to the one by Schaeffer above, click here.

 

Small mark:

Full mark:

Copper mark:

LPS mark:

 

Item

Description

Size

Marks

Peer Smed brooch / pin, in the shape of a lifelike 3-dimensionsal lily with detailed beaded stamen and chased leaves. Heavy.

Brooch / pin, in the shape of a lifelike 3-dimensional lily with detailed beaded stamen and chased leaves.  Heavy.

2-1/2" L and 1-1/4" W

HAND WROUGHT / STERLING / PEER SMED

Second example of Peer Smed brooch / pin, in the shape of a lifelike 3-dimensional lily with detailed beaded stamen and chased leaves, but slightly larger than one above and with rounder stamen. Heavy.

Second example of brooch / pin, in the shape of a lifelike 3-dimensional lily with detailed beaded stamen and chased leaves, but slightly larger than one above and with rounder stamen.  Heavy.

2-13/16" L and 1-1/2" W

PEER SMED / STERLING / HAND WROUGHT

Peer Smed brooch / pin, very large, in the form of a detailed lily, with large leaves, stamens and stems. Extremely heavy, dimensional, and well-made

Brooch / pin, very large, in the form of a detailed lily, with large leaves, stamens and stems.  Extremely heavy, dimensional, and well-made

4-1/2" H and 2-3/8" W

HANDWROUGHT PEER SMED STERLING

Peer Smed brooch / pin, very large, in the form of a detailed lily, with long curving stamen and two large pointed leaves. Very dimensional, and well-made. Beautifully hammered.

Brooch / pin, very large, in the form of a detailed lily, with long curving stamen and two large pointed leaves. Very dimensional, and well-made.  Beautifully hammered.

4-1/16" H and 3" W

PEER SMED / STERLING / D WROUGHT

Peer Smed brooch / pin, oval with flat bottom, large and heavy, in the shape of a swan with outstretched wings on a cutout frame with floral decoration. Nicely detailed chasing.

Brooch / pin, oval with flat bottom, large and heavy, in the shape of a swan with outstretched wings on a cutout frame with floral decoration.  Nicely detailed chasing.

2-3/4" W and 1-5/8" H

PEER SMED STERLING HAND CHASED

Peer Smed brooch, handwrought in sterling silver with rose blossom design and beautifully chased details.

Brooch, handwrought in sterling silver with rose blossom design and beautifully chased details.

1-5/16" H and 2-1/16" W

STERLING / PEER SMED / HAND CHASED

Peer Smed brooch, handwrought in sterling silver with three fuchsia blossoms atop a leaf. Beautifully chased details. Very heavy.

Brooch, handwrought in sterling silver with three fuchsia blossoms atop a leaf.  Beautifully chased details.  Very heavy.

2-11/16" W and 1-5/8" H

STERLING / PEER SMED / HAND CHASED

Peer Smed brooch, handwrought in sterling silver in the form of a morning glory overlapping leaves on an oval cutout frame. Beautifully chased details.

Brooch, handwrought in sterling silver in the form of a morning glory overlapping leaves on an oval cutout frame.  Beautifully chased details. 

1-5/8" W and 1-3/16" H

PEER SMED / STERLING / HAND CHASED

Peer Smed brooch in the form of a lifelike and finely-worked fish on an oval background with freeform waves at the edges. Heavy.

Brooch / pin, in the form of a lifelike and finely-worked fish on an oval background with freeform waves at the edges.  Heavy.

2-3/16" W and 1-1/16" H

STERLING / [PEER SMED mark] 1934

Peer Smed dress clip in the form of detailed dimensional leaves, stems, and berries, with a spring clip on the back.

Clip, dress, in the form of detailed dimensional leaves, stems, and berries, with a spring clip on the back.

1-1/2" L and 1" W

PEER SMED [mark with hammer] / STERLING / HANDWROUGHT

Peer Smed brooch / pin, in the shape of a cornucopia, with chased details and curving ornament at each end.

Brooch / pin, in the shape of a cornucopia, with chased details and curving ornament at each end.

2-15/16" L and 13/16" W

STERLING / [PEER SMED mark] 1934

Peer Smed brooch / pin, in the shape of a lily with detailed stamen and leaves.

Brooch / pin, in the shape of a lily with detailed stamen and leaves.

2-3/8" L and 7/8" W

PEER / SMED / STERLING / HAND WROUGHT

Peer Smed brooch / pin, in the shape of a lily with detailed stamen and leaves. Solid and very heavy for its size.

Brooch / pin, in the shape of a lily with detailed stamen and leaves.  Solid and very heavy for its size.

1-7/8" L and 3/4" W

STERLING / PEER SMED / HAND CHASED

Peer Smed cuff bracelet with open back and wide central element with chased, pierced, and repoussé lifelike squirrel in tree with branches and leaves. Squirrel is covered in 14K gold.

Peer Smed mark with date

Bracelet, cuff, with open back, and wide central element with chased, pierced, and repoussé lifelike squirrel in tree with branches and leaves.  Squirrel is covered in 14K gold.

2-1/4" W and 1-1/4" H and 1-3/4" D

[PEER SMED mark] / STERLING / 1933

Peer Smed ring, massive, composed of large hand-worked freeform silver swirls and spirals. Very heavy. Earlier gilding is worn.

Ring, massive, composed of large hand-worked freeform silver swirls and spirals.  Very heavy.  Earlier gilding is worn.

Size 9-1/2

1-1/16" H and 15/16" W and 15/16" D

PEER SMED / STERLING

Peer Smed ring, massive, composed of large hand-worked freeform silver swirls and spirals. Heavy.

Ring, massive, composed of large hand-worked freeform silver swirls and spirals.  Heavy. 

1" H and 13/16" W and 13/16" D

 PEER SMED / STERLING

Peer Smed ring, heavy for its size, with a jack-in-the-pulpit blossom on the front and arrow-shaped leaves curving around on the sides.

Ring, heavy for its size, with a jack-in-the-pulpit blossom on the front and arrow-shaped leaves curving around on the sides.

1/2" H and 3/4" W and 7/8" D

Size 5

PEER SMED / STERLING

Peer Smed ring, thick and heavy, with freeform design of four stylized flower blossoms beneath a large swirling stylized leaf form that extends from the top and curves around to the side

Ring, thick and heavy, with freeform design of four stylized flower blossoms beneath a large swirling stylized leaf form that extends from the top and curves around to the side

13/16" W and 13/16" D and 11/32" H

PEER SMED / STERLING

Peer Smed ring, thick and heavy for its size, composed of abstract undulating horizontal bands of stylized leaves

Ring, thick and heavy for its size, composed of abstract undulating horizontal bands of stylized leaves

7/8" W and 1" D and 9/16" H

PEER SMED / STERLING

Peer Smed brooch / pin, in the shape of three flower blossoms with gilded seed pods emerging from silver flowers, two of which are on curving stems with a background of tall thin leaves.

Brooch / pin, in the shape of three flower blossoms with gilded seed pods emerging from silver flowers, two of which are on curving stems with a background of tall thin leaves.

3-1/8" L and 1/2" W

STERLING  [PEER SMED mark] 1933

Peer Smed brooch / pin, on open oval frame, with chased blossom and seed pod atop large detailed leaf whose pointed end extends slightly past the edge of the frame.

Brooch / pin, on open oval frame, with chased blossom and seed pod atop large detailed leaf whose pointed end extends slightly past the edge of the frame.

1-5/8" W and 1-1/8" H

PEER SMED / STERLING /

HAND CHASED

Peer Smed brooch / pin, very large, in the form of a detailed poppy, with folded over chased blossoms, stamen and stems. Extremely heavy, dimensional, and well-made

Brooch / pin, very large, in the form of a detailed poppy, with folded over chased blossoms, stamen and stems.  Extremely heavy, dimensional, and well-made

3-9/16" W and 1-5/8" H and 11/16" D

HANDWROUGHT PEER SMED STERLING

Peer Smed brooch / pin, with chased and cutout design of applied poppy blossom atop a long serrated leaf. Slightly dimensional.

Brooch / pin, with chased and cutout design of applied poppy blossom atop a long serrated leaf.  Slightly dimensional.

2-9/16" W and 1-1/16" H

PEER SMED / STERLING / HAND CHASED

Peer Smed brooch / pin, oval, with chased and cutout design of flower blossom with large curved protruding stamens surrounded by stylized leaves. Convex, heavy, and slightly dimensional. Extensively hand-worked.

Brooch / pin, oval, with chased and cutout design of flower blossom with large curved protruding stamens surrounded by stylized leaves.  Convex, heavy, and slightly dimensional.  Extensively hand-worked.

2-3/16" W and 1-1/2" H

PEER SMED / STERLING / HAND CHASED

Peer Smed necklace, silver, composed of ten links formed in the shape of raised leaves with circular accents, centered by a slightly larger pentagonal pendant in similar decoration

Necklace, silver, composed of ten links formed in the shape of raised leaves with circular accents, centered by a slightly larger  pentagonal pendant in similar decoration

15-3/4" L and 1" W

PEER SMED / STERLING / HANDWROUGHT

Peer Smed necklace, silver, composed of 16 leaf-form links each with a stem that curves around and forms a loop, centering a large pointed oval plaque with chased fuchsia blossoms and leaves. Plaque is heavy and dimensional. Long thin interesting clasp with applied curving decoration.

Necklace, silver, composed of 16 leaf-form links each with a stem that curves around and forms a loop, centering a large pointed oval plaque with chased fuchsia blossoms and leaves.  Plaque is heavy and dimensional.  Long thin interesting clasp with applied curving decoration.

Pendant:  2" H and 1-3/8" W

 

Chain of leaves:  18" L incl. clasp

PEER SMED / STERLING / HAND CHASED

Peer Smed dish, small, leaf-shaped, with rounded raised slightly irregular edge and three beaded tendrils curving up over the edge from the back. Hammered surfaces. Heavy.

Dish, small, leaf-shaped, with rounded raised slightly irregular edge and three beaded tendrils curving up over the edge from the back.  Hammered surfaces.  Heavy.

4-1/4" L and 3-5/16" W

STERLING / PEER SMED [mark with hammer]

Peer Smed dish, small, round, with rounded raised slightly irregular edge and three beaded tendrils curving up over the edge from the back. Hammered surfaces. Heavy.

Dish, small, round, with rounded raised slightly irregular edge and three beaded tendrils curving up over the edge from the back.  Hammered surfaces.  Heavy.

4" W (across tendrils)

STERLING / PEER SMED [mark with hammer]

Peer Smed bowl or compote, footed, with handles. Oval form with small flat raised edge and two handles made of curving wires each spiraling at the end and centering an applied repousse oak leaf.

Closeup of leaf handle from Peer Smed bowl or compote, footed, with handles. Oval form with small flat raised edge and two handles made of curving wires each spiraling at the end and centering an applied repousse oak leaf.

Bowl or compote, footed, with handles.  Oval form with small flat raised edge and two handles made of curving wires each spiraling at the end and centering an applied repousse oak leaf.  Small oval foot with stepped edge.  Stem is made of hollow silver tube with four spreading pointed extensions at each end.  Hammered surfaces.

7-15/16" L and 5" W and 4" H

STERLING / [PEER SMED mark] / HANDWROUGHT

Peer Smed server, small, heavy tapering silver handle with stainless steel trowel-form blade and applied lily and chased leaf ornament at end

Peer Smed server, small, heavy tapering silver handle with stainless steel trowel-form blade and applied lily and chased leaf ornament at end

Server, small, heavy tapering silver handle with stainless steel trowel-form blade and applied lily and chased leaf ornament at end

6-7/8" L and 1-3/8" W

PEER SMED [mark with hammer] / STERLING /  HAND WROUGHT

Peer Smed salts, set of four (4), round bowls with four evenly-spaced repoussé swirling decorations at the edge, on small spreading cutout feet that repeat the swirling form.

Peer Smed salts, set of four (4), round bowls with four evenly-spaced repoussé swirling decorations at the edge, on small spreading cutout feet that repeat the swirling form.

Salts, set of four (4), round bowls with four evenly-spaced repoussé swirling decorations at the edge, on small spreading cutout feet that repeat the swirling form.

2-5/16" W and 3/4" H

STERLING / PEER SMED [mark with hammer] / HAND WROUGHT

Peer Smed salts, set of five (5), leaf-form, with eight (8) spoons.

Peer Smed salts, set of five (5), leaf-form, with eight (8) spoons.

Peer Smed salts, set of five (5), leaf-form, with eight (8) spoons.

Peer Smed salts, set of five (5), leaf-form, with eight (8) spoons.

Peer Smed salts, set of five (5), leaf-form, with eight (8) spoons.

Peer Smed salts, set of five (5), leaf-form, with eight (8) spoons.

Salts, set of five (5), leaf-form, with eight (8) spoons.  Four have two ball feet and a thick coiled stem that also acts as a foot.  One has three ball feet.  Each is heavily hand-worked.  One leaf (with three ball feet) has three round lily-pad-type lobes.  One resembles a maple leaf.  One resembles an oak leaf.  Two almost identical ones have a curved arrowhead-type form.  Beautifully hammered detailing.  The eight spoons are in the form of small square-point spades with flat fronts and raised edges at the sides and back, and have curving ends. 

Lily-pad:  2-5/8" L and 2-5/8" W

 

Oak:  3-1/4" L and 1-15/16" W

 

Maple:  2-5/8" L and 2-7/16" W

 

Arrow-form:  3-3/4" L and 1-3/4" W

 

Spoons:  from 2-1/2" L to 2-3/4" L, and 1/2" to 9/16" W

PEER SMED / STERLING / HAND WROUGHT

Peer Smed server, massive, with pointed arrowhead-form trowel-like blade

Peer Smed server, massive, with pointed arrowhead-form trowel-like blade, end detail

Peer Smed server, massive, with pointed arrowhead-form trowel-like blade, mark

Server, massive, with pointed arrowhead-form trowel-like blade, wide spreading handle with large applied dimensional hand-worked lily and leaf ornament at end, with stems that curve around to the back.  Raised midline on blade and handle that tapers to the edges.  Lovely hammering.  Heavy and imposing.  (See similar one from daughter Lona P. Schaeffer below.)

11-7/8" L and 2-9/16" W

STERLING /  PEER SMED [mark with hammer] / HAND WROUGHT

Server, massive, with pointed arrowhead-form trowel-like blade, wide spreading handle with large applied hand-worked lily and leaf ornament at end, with stems that curve around to the back. Raised midline on blade and handle that tapers to the edges. Lovely hammering. Heavy and striking. Made by Peer Smed's daughter Lona P. Schaeffer.

Closeup of ornament on server handle by Smed's daughter Lona P. Schaeffer.

Mark of Peer Smed's daughter Lona P. Schaeffer.

Server, massive, with pointed arrowhead-form trowel-like blade, wide spreading handle with large applied hand-worked lily and leaf ornament at end, with stems that curve around to the back.  Raised midline on blade and handle that tapers to the edges.  Lovely hammering.  Heavy and striking.  Made by Smed's daughter Lona P. Schaeffer.  (See similar one by Peer Smed above.)

12-3/8" L and 3-1/2" W and 1-3/8" H

HAND WROUGHT [LPS mark] STERLING

Knife, with heavy solid handle and wide hammered curving blade with freeform scalloped edges. Fine applied blossom and curving leaves at end of handle. Heavy. Made by Peer Smed's daughter Lona P. Schaeffer.

Detail from knife, with heavy solid handle and wide hammered curving blade with freeform scalloped edges. Fine applied blossom and curving leaves at end of handle. Heavy. Made by Peer Smed's daughter Lona P. Schaeffer.

Mark from knife, with heavy solid handle and wide hammered curving blade with freeform scalloped edges. Fine applied blossom and curving leaves at end of handle. Heavy. Made by Peer Smed's daughter Lona P. Schaeffer.

Knife, with heavy solid handle and wide hammered curving blade with freeform scalloped edges.  Fine applied blossom and curving leaves at end of handle.  Heavy.  Made by Smed's daughter Lona P. Schaeffer.

7-1/8" L and 2-3/16" W

[LPS mark] / HAND WROUGHT / STERLING

Pin in the form of a jack-in-the-pulpit blossom with a curving chased leaf on each side and thick curving wirework stems at the top. Large heart-shaped silver disk at back to support pin. Massive and heavy. Made by Peer Smed's daughter Lona P. Schaeffer.

Mark of Peer Smed's daughter Lona P. Schaeffer.

Pin in the form of a jack-in-the-pulpit blossom with a curving chased leaf on each side and thick curving wirework stems at the top.  Large heart-shaped silver disk at back to support pin.  Massive and heavy. Made by Smed's daughter Lona P. Schaeffer.

2-7/16" W and 2-13/16" H

HAND WROUGHT / [LPS mark] / STERLING

Small dish, concave oval form with shaped rim on low oval ring foot and a stylized strap handle with looping scroll on one side formed by the point of the letter "A" in a curving, applied AM monogram. A rare piece by Peer Smed's daughter Lona P. Schaeffer.

Mark of Peer Smed's daughter Lona P. Schaeffer.

Small dish, concave oval form with shaped rim on low oval ring foot and a stylized strap handle with looping scroll on one side formed by the point of the letter "A" in a curving, applied AM monogram.  Made by Smed's daughter Lona P. Schaeffer.

4" L and 3" W and 1/2" H

STERLING [LPS mark] HAND WROUGHT

 

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