Fork, part of a picnic set with matching knife (1986.0531.062A). Short three-tined fork with flat baluster stem. Tines, stem, and tang are one piece of steel fitted with pewter bolster into a wooden handle with rounded sides and blunt butt. Handle is comprised of two pieces of wood riveted to tang with brass pins. When placed facing one another, knife and fork fit together. Metal is scratched and stained overall, minor rust, nicks in bolster. Wood is separating towards butt. No mark.
Blade of matching knife is etched: “UNIVERSAL/L.F.&C.”
Maker is Landers, Frary & Clark, New Britain, Connecticut (c. 1862). In 1890, L. F. & C. took on the Trademark “Universal”, in 1965, General Electric acquired the company. The company began using the abbreviation “L.F.& C.” in 1898, this mark is dated 1912.
Clipped-corner square, colorless, frosted glass bowl on a bail-handled stand with four, incurved, looped supports ending in three-toed paw feet on a flared conforming base. Cast flowers decorate the supports and a winged putto holding a basket or bowl sits on the base in the middle of them. Plain-rimmed glass bowl or dish has a smooth interior and is cut with five stems of facets on each side. Underside of stand base is struck incuse with a circular mark for "WILCOX SILVER PLATE C\o." with crossed raising hammers at center and the number "0901" below.
Maker is Wilcox Silver Plate Co. of Meriden, CT. The firm was founded as Wilcox Britannia Co. in 1865, and changed its name to Wilcox Silver Plate Co. in 1867. It was one of the founding members of International Silver Co. in 1898; Insilco continued to use the Wilcox name and trademark until circa 1961 when the line was consolidated with E. G. Webster & Son (purchased by Insilco in 1928) into Webster-Wilcox.
Two-handled, urn-shaped, footed cup engraved on opposite sides of its upper half "WF to JG" in foliate script and "Mrs I G." in shaded gothic letters. Plain, flared upper half has an oval rim with convex sides from which spring two sinuous cusped handles with cast anthemions; lower half has a circular angled shoulder with repeating floral motif and a plain rounded bottom. Wide circular foot on pedestal base is decorated with a bird and insects amidst an array of flowers, all in low relief. Underside of base is struck with three incuse marks, "MIDDLETOWN PLATE C\o. / QUADRUPLE PLATE" encircling cross-topped scales, "102", and "HARD / WHITE / METAL" also arranged in a circle.
Maker is Middletown Plate Co. of Middletown, CT. Middletown Plate Co. was founded in 1864 and became a subsidiary of International Silver Co. in 1898; International continued to use the Middletown name and mark until at least 1921.
Floral repousse pitcher with tall neck and globular body on gadrooned circular foot. Decoration features a dove or pigeon perched left on front amidst flowers and foliage, including daffodils, daisies or cosmos, dogwoods, ferns, cattails or reeds and ears of wheat. Gadrooned underbelly and hollow C curve handle, the handle alternating with leafy volutes and ending in a reeded volute for lower terminal. Cusped rim has wide, shallow pouring lip. Underside of flat bottom struck incuse with concentric circular mark of "SIMPSON.HALL.MILLER & C\o" bordering "QUADRUPLE (arched) / (upside-down "T" motif) / PLATE" above "215".
"Ultra" pattern sugar bowl; features an inverted ovoid body with two, low-relief, vertical ears of wheat applied to sides on a short, fluted pedestal with conical base. Flat rim. Two, hollow, C-curve handles. Underside struck with maker's mark and pattern number. From a five-piece coffee and tea service, 1989.0700.07-.11.
Greek-American industrial designer John Vassos (1898-1985) designed the "Ultra" pattern in 1934 for R. Wallace & Sons Mfg. Co. of Wallingford, CT; 1871-present. "Ultra" flatware 1989.0700.01-.06, five-piece coffee and tea service 1989.0700.07-.11, and bowl 1989.0700.12, all belonged to the Vassos family.
Cylindrical napkin ring mounted to a flat oval base inside two scrolled brackets or supports connected to a conical holder with gilt-edged, opaque black glass bud vase painted with a child dancing with ribbons in white enamel; a die-rolled floral pattern with four circular reserves encircles the ring. Base underside struck with incuse circular mark for "ROGERS SMITH & CO / WEST / MERIDEN / CONN." above "219".
Japanned, dome-top box with scrolled hasp lock on front, circular wire ring handle on top, and two hinges at back. Box front is painted with two yellow-bordered white swags, each having a right-facing, scalloped red flower with yellow crescent overstroke, three pairs of red berries or buds, and two types of leaves. Box sides have a straight band with a circular, red flower or fruit flanked by pairs of leaves and berries or buds. Black veining and pencilwork details. Lid has yellow X-shape brushwork around handle, sprays in top corners and on sides; yellow penciling on lid top and all sides except back. Three-piece lid has a wire-rolled rim. Three-piece box has a top edge folded with wire bead below and a flat bottom. Tinned interior. No marks.
Trunks with two white swags on front and straight bands on sides (often decorated with the same motifs, as seen on this trunk) are an identifying feature of the Upson Tinshop of Marion (Southington), CT, circa 1773-1837.
Squat, pear-shaped teapot with a shallow conical, inset, hinged lid topped by a cast leafy ball, and an S-curve spout and hollow, high D- or ear-shaped handle, both decorated with acanthus leaves and graduated beads or pearls. Body has a flat band at seam around belly; eight-lobed upper section and stepped, flat-bottomed lower section. Body is finely perforated at spout. Bottom underside is struck incuse "THE MIDDLETOWN PLATE CO." arched over cross-topped scales and "U.S.A."; incuse number "43" is below.
Maker is Middletown Plate Co. of Middletown, CT. Middletown Plate Co. was founded in 1864 and became a subsidiary of International Silver Co. in 1898; International continued to use the Middletown name and mark until at least 1921.
Japanned, dome-top trunk or lidded box with a scrolled hasp lock on front, a circular wire ring handle on top, and two hinges at back. Box front is painted with pairs of right-facing, alternating, red and yellow leaflets, and on the sides with two, yellow-bordered, red swags with yellow brushwork at center. Lid has yellow X-shape brushwork around handle and sprays in top corners; yellow penciling on lid top and all sides except back. Three-piece lid has a wire-rolled front rim and three folded edges. Three-piece box has a flat bottom and a top edge folded with wire bead below. Tinned interior. No marks.
The painted decoration on this box combines a lid design seen on trunks attributed to the Upson Tinshop of Marion (Southington), CT, circa 1773-1837, with a brushwork band used on the front of a trunk attributed to the Connecticut Filley Tinshop of Bloomfield, CT, circa 1800-1837.
Rectangular hinged-lid box painted "G. W. D. R." in gilt on front below the key lock. Red-painted rectangular bail handle on top and two hinges at back. Exterior and interior are japanned black with gilt and red borders around the raised rectangle stamped in the lid top and with gilt penciling or striping around the lid and box edges. Lid and box are made of five pieces, their sides held together by their rolled wire rims and the lid top and box bottom folded onto sides. No marks. Steel key is stored inside; one side of the bow is stamped incuse "CORBIN" and the other "PATD.87." Black string tied to both box handle and key.
Key maker is Corbin Cabinet Lock Co. (CCL); founded in 1882 in New Britain, CT, and moved to Wheeling, IL, in 2003. Started as manufacturer of locks and related goods, now produces larger assortment of industrial and security hardware.
Shallow, circular, footed dish with wide everted rim covered by a band of densely-packed flowers and foliage, to which is added a pendant border of scrolls and flowers. Short, incurved pedestal is joined to a domed circular foot with complementary raised floral decoration. Dish underside struck incuse with two overlapping circular marks (one of a pointed shield with balanced scales bordered by "MERIDEN / B. COMPANY" in sans serif letters and the other "QUADRUPLE / PLATE") above the number "55" and "U.S.A."
Bail-handled oval basket on flared oval pedestal base decorated at rim and base with cast bands of two rows of different-sized beads. Fluted, everted lower half encircles oval boss at bottom center. Hinged, semicircular handle has a plain, wavy edge, shell-ended segment at center and tapered ends with graduated beads. Circular medallion or tag applied on bottom underside is embossed "* ROGERS, SMITH & C\o. (arched) / (flourish) / N\o. / NEW HAVEN, C\T. * (curved)" and struck incuse "666".