Jewellers and Silversmiths - What's the difference?
I might be the sort of person who likes to enjoy life and not take things too seriously, but I can also be a pedantic old s.o.b at times. I also like to see (hear?) our language used properly and with proper punctuation. I know I'm not perfect, but I do try.
Maybe it's an age thing.
Anyhow, (perhaps I should save this for my blog) one thing that does annoy me is the misuse of the term silversmith.
So, what is the difference between a jeweller and a silversmith?
A jeweller makes jewellery (shock!) - ie things used for body adornment.
A silversmith makes silverware - ie most things other than jewellery. Examples would be bowls, boxes, vases, salt pots, tea pots, candlesticks etc.
Of course, there are a lot of skills common to both, but you would not expect a traditional silversmith to do stone setting, for example. Neither would you expect a jeweller to be able to hammer two identical silver tumblers out of two flat circles of silver.
Actually, there is a third major trade that I could mention, not least because it demonstrates the futility of my personal rant against misuse of our language. Cutlers make cutlery, right? But did you know that the word cutlery originally meant implements with blades - like knives, razors, and swords (including cutlasses, I'm guessing).
It did not include forks and spoons but, back then, most of us didn't use them anyway. And you probably took you own knife with you when you were out and about, too. That's what pocket knives were invented for.
So, just like our table manners, our language has also evolved. Maybe I should just be thankful.
But, then again, I do like eating with my fingers and mopping up my plate with a nice hunk of bread.
Maybe it's an age thing.
Anyhow, (perhaps I should save this for my blog) one thing that does annoy me is the misuse of the term silversmith.
So, what is the difference between a jeweller and a silversmith?
A jeweller makes jewellery (shock!) - ie things used for body adornment.
A silversmith makes silverware - ie most things other than jewellery. Examples would be bowls, boxes, vases, salt pots, tea pots, candlesticks etc.
Of course, there are a lot of skills common to both, but you would not expect a traditional silversmith to do stone setting, for example. Neither would you expect a jeweller to be able to hammer two identical silver tumblers out of two flat circles of silver.
Actually, there is a third major trade that I could mention, not least because it demonstrates the futility of my personal rant against misuse of our language. Cutlers make cutlery, right? But did you know that the word cutlery originally meant implements with blades - like knives, razors, and swords (including cutlasses, I'm guessing).
It did not include forks and spoons but, back then, most of us didn't use them anyway. And you probably took you own knife with you when you were out and about, too. That's what pocket knives were invented for.
So, just like our table manners, our language has also evolved. Maybe I should just be thankful.
But, then again, I do like eating with my fingers and mopping up my plate with a nice hunk of bread.