Clearing up the Wilcox Name

Clearing up the Wilcox Name

Like Rogers (though thankfully fewer) there are several silver and silverplate companies with Wilcox in the name.  We are going to take on a few here.

Wilcox Britannia Co.

Meriden, Connecticut

Founded 1865

Founders:

            Jebediah Wilcox

            Horace Wilcox

            Aaron Collins

            Charlie Parker

            Hezekeah Miller

Made:

            Hollowware

Changed name to Wilcox Silver Plate Co. in 1867

Wilcox & Evertsen

New York, New York

Named in 1892

Formed out of Rowan and Wilcox that started in 1889.

The two founders:

Robert M. Wilcox

Henry H. Evertsen

Made:

            Sterling silver hollowware

            Sterling flatware

            Generally considered to be well designed

Purchased by:

In 1896 they were bought out by the Meriden Britannia Company.

Factories were moved to Meriden Connecticut

1898 – International Silver Company formed (A chief founder being the Meriden Britannia Company)

            Division tools moved to Wallingford Connecticut

            Worked inside the Simpson Nickel Silver Plant

In 1919 their lines became consolidated into the old Simpson, Hall & Miller building.

Marks:

            Hollowware

            Indian head, with feather on top

Flatware

            Wilcox & Evertsen

           

H. C. Wilcox and Co.

Meriden, Connecticut

Founded 1848

Founders:

            Horace C. Wilcox

            Dennis C. Wilcox

Served as an early marketing and distribution service in Meriden Connecticut

Wilcox-Roth Co.

Newark, New Jersey

First reference 1909

Made Sterling Silver

No other information

Mark:

            W Lion R inside a C with an o at the “mouth” of the c

Wilcox Silver Plate Co.

Meriden, Connecticut

Founded 1865/1867

Founders:

            Jebediah Wilcox

            Horace Wilcox

            Aaron Collins

            Charlie Parker

            Hezekeah Miller

Made:

            Hollowware

Purchased:

            1869 purchased the Parker & Casper co.

            1898 helped to found the International Silver Co.

            Wilcox mark used after the foundation as a line in the ISC.

            1941 Factory closed because of WWII

1961 became Webster-Wilcox

1981 Webster-Wilcox sold to Oneida Silversmiths

Marks:

            Too many to list them all:

            Wilcox S.P. Co.

            Wilcox Silver Plate Co.

            Superior Silver Co.

            Made and Guaranteed by Wilcox Silver Co.

            W S P Co.

            Pewter by Wilcox

            Superior S.P.Co.

Wilcox and Wagoner

New York, New York

1904-1905

Made:

            Sterling Hollowware and Glassware

Purchased:

            Bought by the Watson Co. in 1905

Marks:

            Sword in wreath

            WW

           

           

Antique Egyptian Pattern, E.H.H. Smith Silver Co., Everts

Not a whole lot of luck this weekend. I found a few pieces of flatware. The only piece I am really excited about is another Egyptian revival demitasse spoon.  The first Egyptian revival in the decorative arts lasted from about 1820-1850. A good forty years but silver pieces from this period are scarce enough, so finding pieces in the Egyptian revival style is a herculean (or should we say Osirisian) task. 

There was a second form of Egyptian revival in the decorative arts in the 1920’s after the discovery of the tomb of King Tutankhamen.  From time to time since then there has been an incorporation of Egyptian motifs in silver and silver plate.This is one such case.

These are my two demitasse spoons in the Egyptian revival style.  They are the Antique Egyptian or Scarab pattern patented in 1909. One is marked Everts and the other has no mark (which as we shall see is not too unusual)  They have scarab beetles on the end of the handle.  These were produced after the height of the first Egyptian revival.  So what do we know about this pattern?

Hagan (1990) list them as Wm. A. Rogers and another company listed simply as Smith in the year 1909 and notes that they are not a full line. Meaning that only select pieces were made in this pattern.  In this book they are called Antique Egyptian.

Bones and Fisher (1998) list them under E. H. H. Smith Silver Company in Bridgeport Connecticut. They claim that it was designed for the Café de L’Opera in New York.  Further they claim that they were often given out as a premium by jewelry stores.  An interesting note is that this line is also known as Scarab. While noted as not being a full line confirming Hagan (1990). Bones and Fisher note that there exist grape shears, nut cracks, butter picks, muddlers as well as dinner spoons, forks and knives. The line appears in their book as having the scarab and without. The end of the piece having a sun disc and papyrus scroll in some cases.

Davis and Deibel (1972) list Antique Egyptian under the E.H.H. Smith Silver Co. showing their marks as a (triangle) S (triangle) and xx S xx where the s is in a box. They have a reprint of an advertisement that confirms that the pattern was designed for the Café de L’Opera in New York.  It also shows knives, butter knives, nut picks etc.  However, all of the pieces shown have the scarab on the piece. Davis and Deibel list the pattern date as 1909 and mention that it can also be found backstamped as Wm. A. Rogers and Everts. Everts used the demitasse spoons as an advertising premium.

Similar pieces:

Rogers & Bros. had a pattern named Egyptian in 1879. Other hollowware makers incorporated various Egyptian themes into their work like sphinxes as finials and the like.  I have also seen papyrus scrolls as a form of decoration. 

A collector I know and admire greatly has a pair of sphinx candlesticks that I am quite jealous of.  Next time I visit his collection I will ask for a picture.

Reed & Barton Advertisement Scribner's Magazine 1909

Someone was searching the blog two days ago for "early Reed & Barton epns" Because of that I did some digging and came up with this advertisement from Reed & Barton from Scribner's Magazine in 1909.  Its not really "early" the company started in 1824, but it does show some nice pieces of holloware.

                                Make This a REED & BARTON Christmas

By selecting' all your gifts of Reed & Barton Silver from a Reed & Barton Jeweler. It will reflect your own good taste and be a pretty compliment to the recipients. For Reed & Barton Silver gives enduring satisfaction. It is substantial in weight, uncommon in design and faultless in workmanship.

Reed & Barton productions rarely win in a competition of prices. They are not advertised or put forward because cheapest. Nor are they sold in every kind of a shop. They are obtainable only in the better jewelry stores. Hence a gift of Reed & Barton Silver, either Sterling or hign grade plate, is the more choice and desirable. So make this a Reed & Barton Christmas

The conservative advocate: a book of biographies of Connecticut's successful men, with essays on conservatism by well known writers

This is a 1909 article that covers the International Silver Company and its many "brands". It also covers men of industry that worked for and about the company. It was written by E.L. Chadwick or Earl Leslie Chadwick.