Posted 12 years ago
Bwammy
(2 items)
I would like to find out more about this Silver Water Pitcher. I inherited it from my g-grandmother who was married in 1889 in Douglas County, Illinois.
Silver Water Pitcher | ||
| Silver Pitchers31 of 49 |  |  |
Silver Water Pitcher | ||
| Silver Pitchers31 of 49 | | |
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Posted 12 years ago
Bwammy
(2 items)
I would like to find out more about this Silver Water Pitcher. I inherited it from my g-grandmother who was married in 1889 in Douglas County, Illinois.
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Lovely piece! I love what I can see of the design on the pitcher. Can you give dimensions and post photos that show any markings on the bottoms/sides of the pitcher/cups/stand that might show hallmarks? It appears the actual container of the pitcher is some type of glass. Is it pressed glass? Is the design on it ecthed or painted? These things will help others help you in your search for information about this lovely set. I don't think you'll have much luck with information unless someone has seen one exactly like it and already knows these things, which of course is possible. :-)
Bwammy.. chinablue is correct. Without more info to start with, nobody's going to be able to identify. Most important are her requests for hallmarks. These should be stamped in multiple places on a piece this size.. provide those... and knowing chinablue.. wont be long !
Great piece !
Hallmark - In a cirle on 2 of the cups. No hallmark on the base.
Simpson, Hall, Miller, & Co.
Quadruple
Plate
Not sure of this, used a magnifying glass. (TINY!) Couldn't take a pic because of glare.
Facts - When I inherited it in 1972, it was pure black, having not been polished in over 30 years. My grandmother said that it couldn't be used like that so she took it to a silversmith (?). They said that it couldn't be cleaned; it would have to be re-silvered. But, the process would take off part of the (what I call ceramic/glass) picture. (It may have been a "dip.") That did happen. One half of the original design on the ceramic/glass was then gone. We realized that this would diminish its worth but it was totally blackened & ugly. My grandmother remembered this piece as a young woman & really wanted to have it restored to what she remembered. She enjoyed it the rest of her life. The original wedding gift tag is still inside (1889).
Base - 10.5 x 11'
Ht - 24'
Wt - Abt 20+ lbs.
Well.. the only thing left would be to find the date of manufacture but surely around that 1889.
Simpson, Hall, Miller, & Co. is the manufacturer.
Quadruple Plate means it's silver plate of quadruple thickness.
Sometimes there are just the slightest variations in marks that will help you with the exact date, sometimes the best you can do is "circa". For what it's worth Simpson, Hall, Miller, & Co. from Wallingford, CT was started in 1866 by Samuel Simpson. It became part of International Silver Co. in 1898. stevedeals 1889 would fall safely in that period. I'm glad steve was able to help you out! :-)
Thank you all for responding! Can you also tell me, what is the name for this piece? Is it valueless because it had to be re-silvered? Thank you again, Brenda
I can't speak for serious collectors or those that buy to resale, but if I was looking at a similar piece and loved it, it wouldn't matter to me if had been replated or not. I'd still use it and love it. In it's way, it's value is priceless because of the family connection. What it's worth on the open market, I wouldn't know. Perhaps someone that does will be able to help you.
I did find this pitcher that is quite similar to the one in your set, but so far haven't seen the set.
http://p2.la-img.com/1223/29287/11329623_1_m.jpg
Auction estimate on it is $50-$100. But that's just for the pitcher, not the stand or cups.
Thank you both SO MUCH! Brenda
One of THE most beautiful pieces of silver i have ever seen and a lovely story to go along with it. It belonged to your Grandmother....Priceless!
Thank you so much for your nice feedback. I guess, between the two of you, you have a house full! Since chinablue knows abt Victorian furniture, I will post a few mystery photos of furniture I inherited.
Brenda, you wouldn't believe it. China accuses me of being a hoarder. I have "collections". Big difference, don't you think? I DO NOT keep old pizza boxes!
There is a fine line there! Never know what those old boxes could bring in 100 years - We didn't think to keep any of those old '50s toys, did we?
Ask jimbo about his cereal boxes. True they aren't pizza boxes.. but come on! *LOL*