Chats on Old Silver

Hayden, Arthur, 1868-1946Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.4

Word count: 337K words
Chapters: 34

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Chats on Old Silver by Arthur HaydenAuthor: Hayden, Arthur, 1868-1946,Language: English, Class: NK: Fine Arts: Decorative and Applied Arts, Decoration and Ornament, Release Date: Jan 23, 2019

Editor's review

Chats on Old Silver by Arthur Hayden is an essay-style book on antique silverware, belonging to decorative and applied arts, freely distributed by Project Gutenberg. The word "Chats" in the title signals its stylistic character: it is not a systematic identification manual but a discursive exploration of knowledge in a conversational tone, unfolding chapter by chapter around topics such as silver styles, craftsmanship, and period characteristics. For readers seeking an initial understanding of Western silver appreciation, it offers a relatively relaxed entry point, with the unhurried feel of early twentieth-century writing. Its limitations should be clearly recognized: the book was written long ago, and its market information, collecting judgments, and identification standards no longer apply today; readers should treat it as a historical document and enjoyable reading rather than a practical guide. It also lacks modern catalogues or high-resolution plates, so understanding forms from verbal descriptions alone will involve some difficulty.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Beginner readers interested in Western silverware and the history of decorative arts
Those who enjoy essay-style knowledge books rather than systematic manuals
Readers studying early twentieth-century appreciative writing styles
English-capable readers looking to broaden their public-domain reading

Not a good fit for

Collecting professionals needing contemporary identification standards and market prices
Practical readers who rely on plates to identify forms
Beginners who struggle with English and need systematic Chinese textbooks

Reading tips

Read chapter by chapter, and after each chapter summarize in your own words the silverware topic it discusses.
Note the period and style judgments in the book as you read, and compare them with modern sources to recognize period limitations.
Read alongside general works on decorative art history to compensate for the lack of plates.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Can this book be used as a silverware identification guide?

Not recommended. The book was written in the early twentieth century, and its identification standards, market information, and collecting judgments differ considerably from contemporary practice. It can be read as a document for understanding early appreciative writing, but practical work should refer to contemporary professional identification materials and catalogues.

Does the book contain silverware images?

The Gutenberg edition is mainly text and usually does not include modern high-resolution catalogue plates. Descriptions of forms and ornamentation rely on words, and readers lacking relevant visual experience may find understanding difficult; reading alongside decorative arts catalogues or museum collection materials is advised.

Why does the title use the word "Chats"?

"Chats" means informal talks, signaling that the book is not a systematic textbook but a discursive exploration of knowledge in a conversational tone, chapter by chapter. This style was common in early twentieth-century appreciative writing; it reads relatively easily but is less systematic than specialized manuals, so readers must organize the content themselves.

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About the author

Hayden, Arthur, 1868-1946 Author

Arthur Hayden (1868–1946) was a British writer on antiques and collecting active from the late nineteenth to the first half of the twentieth century. Public information about him is limited, and the details of his life are difficult to trace. Judging from the eight works held in the collection, he focused on British and European ceramics, silver, furniture and clocks. Most of his titles begin with "Chats on", such as Chats on English China, Chats on Old Silver and Chats on Old Furniture: A Practical Guide for Collectors, and he also wrote a volume on Royal Copenhagen porcelain. This conversational style addresses ordinary collectors in plain language, emphasizing dating, marks and the transmission of connoisseurship. Both informative and practical, his books are representative of collecting literature of their time and are still consulted by readers interested in the writing of antique appreciation.