Description:
One of two silver teaspoons and two silver tablespoons with pointed oval bowls, rounded shoulders, and double-swell fiddle handles with short midribs, which is marked "N Harding & Co" in script in a banner and "Pocumtuck Hotel" on the back of the handle, and engraved with the initials "L" on the fronts of the handle. The Pocumtuck Hotel was located on Main St. in Deerfield. Massachusetts, and was in business from 1854-1877 when it burned down. Newell Harding (1796-1862) apprenticed with Hazen Morse (b.1790) from 1820-1825, and worked in Boston as a silversmith from 1826-1851. Harding was in partnership with his son Francis Low Harding, Alexander H, Lewis, and Lewis B. Kimball from 1851-1859 and with Francis Low Harding and Lewis B. Kimball from 1859-1862 as Newell Harding and Co. in Boston. In 1856, the company was described by Troxell Freedley in "Leading Pursuits and Leading Men: A Treatise on the Principal Trades and Manufactures of the United States:" "In 1822, Newell Harding, the founder of the now celebrated establishment of Newell Harding & Co., commenced business, having served an apprenticeship with Mr. Hazen Morse. At this period, and previously, the business was conducted in all its branches in each shop, and apprentices were obliged to learn how to make and finish every thing through all the stages, from the melting of the silver to the final burnishing or polishing of it. This system, although it gave great completeness to the mechanical education of the apprentices, involved on the part of the master workman a large expenditure of capital for tools, patterns, &c. Mr. Harding was the first to attempt a division in the trade; and, resolving to ignore every thing but spoons, confined himself wholly to that branch of the business. His success was so great that he soon found an enlargement of his establishment necessary, and in a short time the name of Harding became a household word in the families of New England, as his "stamp" was to be seen upon most of the spoons then in use. Mr. Harding was the first to introduce power for the purpose of rolling silver. Before this the "boys" were obliged to roll down all the silver in a hand "mill," the bar being wide enough to make one spoon; but now they arc made wide enough for two or more, according to weight. He also divided the operation into three or four parts, which not only hastened the process, but produced more highly finished work. The ornamental style of work now so much in vogue on spoons is indebted to him for its earliest introduction. The firm of Newell Harding & Co. is now composed of Newell Harding, his son, F. L. Harding, and Messrs. A. H. Lewis and Louis Kimball. The site of their present spacious establishment, 12 Court Square, corner of Court Avenue, erected in 1836, has been occupied as a silversmith's stand for more than seventy-five years. They employ about thirty-five hands, and manufacture every variety of warranted silver-ware, including, when ordered, presentation plate. Two pitchers and salvers of solid silver, made by this firm and presented to the mayor of Roxbury by his friends, we have heard highly extolled for their beauty of design and finish. Messrs. Newell Harding & Co. are said to be the only silversmiths in Boston who make and sell their own work to consumers." After Newell Harding's death in 1862, Newell Harding & Co silversmiths continued to be listed in Boston directories at various addresses until 1889. The final address for the company was 297 Washington, and it is listed in the The Boston Directory No LXXXV for the year commencing July 1, 1889.
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