Artist/Maker

Mood, Peter Sr.

Place Made

Date Made

1785-1810

Medium

silver –gold

Dimensions

HOA: 1 15/16″; WOA: 1 7/16″

Accession Number

5030

Description

DESCRIPTION: Rectangular-shaped medallion made of silver and gold thought to be a neck stock buckle. The central design is a diamond-shaped cartouche made from gold with engraved initials. The gold cartouche is surrounded by an engraved sunburst pattern, and sixteen pierced holes within an engraved scalloped border. Two small and two large holes sit atop this scalloped design with the larger holes surrounded by engraved petals or half-lunettes. The outline of buckle is shaped at the top and bottom, straight at the sides, with a conforming bright-cut engraved border. Six small holes are located on the proper right edge, two in the middle and two on each end. The reverse features a clasp-like device.

INSCRIPTION: Engraved with the script initials “CP” or “CB” in the diamond-shaped cartouche on the face.

MARK: Struck on the reverse with an intaglio “MOOD” mark within a rectangular reserve.

MAKER: Peter Mood Sr. (1766-1821) came from a long line of German silversmiths, including his father, John Peter Muth (1730-1778), who settled in Philadelphia in 1750 and died during the Revolutionary War. Peter Mood Sr. moved to Charleston, South Carolina circa 1785 and set up trade as a silversmith at the bend in King Street. In 1798 he became a member of the German Friendly Society. When his son John Mood (1792-1864) came of age in 1814 he joined his father’s shop and the name of the firm changed to Mood & Son. The business changed names again (to Mood & Sons) when Peter Mood Jr. (1796-1879) joined three years later. Peter Mood Sr. died in 1821 at the age of fifty-five. See E. Milby Burton, “South Carolina Silversmiths 1690-1860” (Charleston, SC: Charleston Museum, 1967).

FORM: Gentlemen of the eighteenth century would often use a neck stock buckle to hold a cravat (also known as a neck stock) in place. Neck stock buckles could be an important piece of male jewelry, often made of silver or gold and embellished with gemstones or paste jewels.

History

This neck stock buckle was discovered near Eutaw Springs, located on the southern shore of Lake Marion, about sixty miles northwest of Charleston, South Carolina. It was unearthed when the water level of the lake was low near an area that was known as Carson’s Ferry.

Artist Biography

Peter Mood Sr. (1766-1821) came from a long line of German silversmiths, including his father, John Peter Muth (1730-1778), who settled in Philadelphia in 1750 and died during the Revolutionary War. Peter Mood Sr. moved to Charleston, South Carolina circa 1785 and set up trade as a silversmith at the bend in King Street. In 1798 he became a member of the German Friendly Society. When his son John Mood (1792-1864) came of age in 1814 he joined his father’s shop and the name of the firm changed to Mood & Son. The business changed names again (to Mood & Sons) when Peter Mood Jr. (1796-1879) joined three years later. Peter Mood Sr. died in 1821at the age of fifty-five. See E. Milby Burton, “South Carolina Silversmiths 1690-1860” (Charleston, SC: Charleston Museum, 1967).

Artist Working Dates

1785-1821

Credit Line

MESDA Purchase Fund