As with so many other western assayers (or engravers, Schultz may have been either) of the middle and late 19th century, given the fact that this field of research is so new it should not be surprising that at present the cataloguer knows absolutely nothing about this assayer beyond what
can be read on this commemorative ingot. Unlike all the other bars in the Ford Collection, this one is purely a decorative object, one might almost say a jewelry item, with no pretense whatsoever to being a monetary ingot with a presentation inscription or a keepsake of a new mine’s output.
Mr. A. Bateman’s friends got together and had a nice presentation plaque made for him by the assayer (or engraver) F.W. Schultz using silver that must
have had some special meaning to Bateman. The friends presented the gift to Bateman on Christmas day, 1862. That much the piece tells. Where the Sargent Ledge, Fergueson Co (County, Colorado?), and Buena Vista were is unknown, assuming these words were correctly spelled by the engraver. The
piece was rather garishly engraved but must have pleased Mr. Bateman as it was carefully preserved for over a century
F.W. Schultz & Son. Virginia City, Nevada Territory. Silver presentation plaque, December 25, 1862.
Overall appearance of Very Fine, scroll work broken from top left. Bright silver color. Not a terribly well formed piece, there is a small flaw on the engraved face, deeper and disfiguring ones on the back, and the hole through the piece is neither round nor oval and is off-center. The object has the look of a locally made item done not entirely professionally. The entire piece is engraved by hand as is Schultz’ signature on the back, there were no punches used in making the plaque.
- Face: Presented / to / A. BATEMAN. / by / mutual friends / taken from the / SARGENT LEDGE
- / FERGUESON CO / BUENA VISTA DEC.25th. 1862.
- Back: F.W. Schultz e. fil. / VIRGINIA CITY.
- Top side: blank.
- Bottom side: blank.
- Left side: blank.
- Right side: blank.
- Dimensions: 54.2 x 43.3 x 5.3 mm.
- Current weight: 93.45 gms.
Ex Century Collection (Superior Galleries, February 2, 1992, lot 3430), Irving Goodman Collection (Superior Galleries,
May 27, 1996, lot 1096).
[10/2007] https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-AV6Q3/fw-schultz-son-virginia-city-nevada-territory-silver-presentation-plaque-december-25-1862 ($20,700)