Al Smith’s cigar box. Photo by Harriet Flehinger.

By Harriet Flehinger

Stories in Sterling, Four Centuries of Silver in New York, a new exhibit at the
NY Historical Society opens to the public on Friday May 4th. This exhibit does
what the NY Historical Society does best, taking simple objects and telling the
stories of the people who created or owned them. The show is divided into
sections (Rituals of Tea and Coffee, Rites of Passage, and Elegant Dining, to
name a few) from early colonial times to the beginning of the 21st Century.

Two things impressed me about this show. First, New York has always been
a diverse culture. Examples of silver made by slave silversmiths in the early
1770’s and Indian medals from 1736 fit neatly beside a Tiffany Communion set
made in 1854 and a Bernard Bernstein Hannukah menorah made in 1999.

Second, our 18th, 19th and early 20th Century forefathers LOVED giving
themselves awards. A central focus of the show is the segment Honoring
Achievement. In this section is a silver trowel marking the laying of the
cornerstone of Mt. Sinai Hospital in 1870 and a silver subway conductor’s
handle made by Tiffany in 1904 to commemorate the opening of NY’s first
subway line…on the UWS. Also visible are swords, tankards, bowls, trophies,
giant keys, and necklaces commemorating events ranging from the opening of
buildings to a successful record-setting balloon trip.

The show runs through September 2nd. For more information visit
www.nyhistory.org.