Tablespoon
Decorative Arts and Design
MEDIUM
Silver-plate
DATES
ca. 1880â1885
DIMENSIONS
7 7/8 x 1 3/4 x 1 1/16 in. (20 x 4.4 x 2.7 cm)
MARKINGS
no marks
SIGNATURE
Unsigned
INSCRIPTIONS
no inscriptions
ACCESSION NUMBER
88.112.17
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Robert Tuggle
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Tablespoon with a plain bowl. Sides of handle flare out gradually to the mid-point and then are pinched in before flaring out again and pinched in again before flaring out into a circular end. The first half of the handle is undecorated. The decoration begins with an indistinctly molded leaf motif below a criss-crossed molded band below the first indentation at mid-point of handle. The next trapezoidal area has indistinct striations at its base and two quarter concentric motives at either upper corner. Above this is a narrow horizontal zigzag band above, which is a large sunflower on a straight stem with three airs of symmetrical leaves. The reverse has similar decoration, but lacks the large sunflower. Pattern unknown.
Collector/dealer Helen Hersh, 34 Plaza Street, Brooklyn, New York, has six teaspoons in this pattern that have the following back stamp: "Sheffield Plate Co." This is a trademark used by Holmes, Booth & Haydens on flatware. This firm founded in 1853. After the Civil War they began to produce flatware. In 1886 they were purchased by Rogers and Hamilton (incorporated February 14, 1886), who occupied the old factories for eight to ten years. Collector Robert Tuggle has another spoon with same pattern with back stamp: "ARLINGTON PLATE CO."
CONDITION: Fair to good. Some of the base yellow metal is revealed, although the piece has retained much luster. Either there is wear to the raised portion of the design or the piece is poorly molded. Some scratches. Although the design is rather sophisticated and exhibits the emblematic sunflower of the Aesthetic Movement, its level of execution is not very high.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
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