A rare southern salt spoon by Washington Noel, a silversmith first found
working in Louisville KY in 1836.
250.00
By 1838 he had moved to Little Rock AK,
and was working with Benjamin Linebaugh, another silversmith who had
previously worked in Russellville KY. By 1853, Noel had moved to Nashville
TN where he plied his trade until moving to Memphis TN in 1855 or 1856 until
his return to Nashville in
1859.
He likely remained there until his death.
Silver made by Washington Noel is extremely scarce, and not a single piece
was illustrated in
"Arkansas Made" Swanee Bennett's compendium of Arkansas artisans, pub. in
1990, which suggests that no known pieces were known at that time. I have
had one other piece by W. Noel and it had the same mark with a star at the
end. This salt or condiment spoon has a rather weak mark which is difficult
to photograph but is entirely readable.
The piece is otherwise in excellent condition.
An interesting example by a silversmith who worked in three southern states.
Length 3 1/2 inches.
