Little Bowl from E.G. Webster and Son

I picked up this little guy two weeks ago on Saturday. I it was four dollars. Not to bad for a repousse piece. Really tarnished silver is often priced super low because it seems to be "ruined" and often it is. This piece was ignored by the "pricers" of the estate sale and I benefited.  It was black as night and I finally got polished on Friday. That's right, an exciting Friday night polishing silver. 

this piece was made by E.G. Webster & Son N.Y. and its number is 440. It is pretty small, but the details are amazing.  In between the flowers and the scrolls are textured surfaces that have been chased. The feet are cast and soldered. This according to Hagan is a sign of quality work. I had not noticed it when I picked it up, but in the polishing, the handles are little sea creatures. This does not quite fit with the floral motif that the rest of the decorations reflect but I am a big fan of weird stuff like that. Perhaps, that's why I find colonial styles of silver to be so boring. There is a tiny amount of pitting in the bowl, but it really is so minor that I think for a piece its age it is forgivable. 

So let us consult Rainwater and see if we can find a bit about E.G. Webster. They were formed in Brooklyn New York in 1859. They have had three names:

Webster Mfg. Co. 1859 - 1873

E.G. Webster & Bros. 1873 - 1886

E.G. Webster & Son 1886 - 1928

in 1928 the son ( Fred H. Webster that formed the Son in the mark) sold the business to the International Silver Company. The factories were moved from Brooklyn to Meriden.  Rainwater states that they were well known for their "highly chased holloware and English reproductions". The webster trademark was used until 1961 when it was changed to Webster-Wilcox. This continued until 1981. At this time it was sold to Oneida.

The Meriden Name Problem

Meriden Connecticut was center of silver and silver plate manufacturing. There were a few companies with Meriden in their name and I thought a short list might be useful to understanding the difference between them. (Similar names is an issue that has often been a source of confusion to me don't even get me started on flatware manufacturers)  The formation of the International Silver Company helped to consolidate these companies but it still used a variety of marks from the companies that formed it to indicate levels of quality.

A Few Facts (these will be on the test): The Meriden Silver Plate Co.

1. The Meriden Silver Plate Co. Was started in 1869.

2. It's factories were in Meriden Connecticut.

3. It helped form the International Silver Company in 1898.

4. It is not the same company as the Meriden Britannia Company.

5. Marks used into the 1930's.

6. Marks read: The Meriden Silver Plate Co., The Meriden S.P.Co., International S.Co., Eureka Silver Co.,   

A Few More Facts:  The Meriden Britannia Company

1. Started in 1852.

2.  First formed for creating Britannia (white metal) Hollowware.

3.  Offering plated ware by 1855

4.  In 1862 joined by the Rogers Brothers. (who used the 1847 Rogers Brothers mark from Hartford)    -the mess of "Rogerses" is something we will seek to unravel later.

5.  Had London and Canadian Branches.

6. Had sales offices in New York, Chicago, and San Fransisco.

7. 1898 - One of the founding members, and leading organizers of the International Silver Company.

8. The Meriden Britannia Company's marks were used until the 1930's.

9. Marks read Meriden B. Company, Sillimans Silver Ring, M.B. Co, M B C E P (in shields)

You can make a comparison of  the Meridian Britannia Company and the Meriden Silver Plate Co. marks at two wonderful sites.

First is the site 925-1000, they have an awesome list of marks, and a great library.

You can view it here.

Second is The Online Encyclopedia of American Silver Marks. This site is also a great resource for the collector.


You can view it here.

One More Meriden: Meriden Britannia Co. LTD.

1. Located in Hamilton Ontario.

2. Founded in 1879.

3. Canadian branch of Meriden Britannia Company.

4. Produced flatware (1847 Rogers, sterling)

5. Merged with International Silver Co. of Canada ~ 1912

Another Company: Meriden Cutlery Company

1. Early founding  - 1834

2. Started by  G. and D.N. Ropes (cutlery manufacturers) in Maine.

3. Business acquired by Julius Pratt & Co. of Meriden

4. 1845 merger creates Pratt, Ropes, Webb & Co. -located in Hanover Connecticut

5. 1855 Joint stock company Meriden Cutlery Company formed located in South Meriden Connecticut.

6. 1866 Purchased by Landers, Fray and Clarke.

7.  Landers, Fray and Clarke out of business in the 1960's

8. Made table cutlery, carving sets,  pearl handled cutlery, carving knives with sterling silver blades, some sterling

9. A January 2, 1891 Advertisement list their "Patented Celluloid Handle"

You can view this advert here.


The New Your Times had this to say about the Company in 1877.

Sale of American Cutlery

February 14, 1877, Wednesday

"The first public sale of cutlery under the auspices of the Table Cutlery Manufacturers' Association of the United States comprising the Beaver Falls Cutlery Company, Landers, Frary Clark, John Russel Cutlery Company, Meriden Cutlery Company, Chicago Cutlery Manufacturing Company, and Lamson Goodnow Manufacturing Company was begun yesterday."

You can read the whole article in .pdf here.

Two Final Meridens

1. Meriden Jly Co. or Meriden Jewelry Co.

2. Meriden Sterling Co. 1896-1904

The work A Historical Record and Pictorial Description of the Town of Meriden, The Town of Meriden Connecticut "The Silver City" (1906) By Charles Bancroft Gillespie, George Munsor Curtis covers the history of manufacturers in Meriden. Large sections of the book focus on the International Silver Company and covers at length both the Meriden Britannia Company and the Meriden Silver Plate Co. as well as other silver companies. It also gives the general history of the town on Meriden. This is an invaluable resource.

Meriden Wares at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition.

Many manufactures made pieces specifically for the Centennial Exhibition of 1876. Silver plate manufactures were originally meant to display with the states where they existed. They contacted Henry Pettit Chief of the Bureau of Administration of the Centennial and demanded that they have their own space. Reed & Barton built a "Rosewood and French Plate Glass Case & Base" that was 27x8 feet and ten feet high. they spent $15,250 on exhibit expenses and displayed $24,500 in goods. (cited in Moskowitz, 2004). Reed and Barton's center piece was the "Progress Vase" a 3x4 foot piece of silver embossed with scenes from the 15th and 19th Century.

This picture is from the Meriden Britannia Company display. It is listed as glass serving dishes with figurines. I imagine that they too along with their competitors Tiffany and Gorham had the best of their best works on display.

You can view this picture and its details here.

Centennial Exhibition 1876

A quick search of the Centennial Exhibition of 1876 archives turned up some interesting things.

You can view the entire collection here.

As mentioned in Marina Moskowitz's book Standards of Living the displays were ornate. However, I failed to realize how ornate.


This picture is from the Meriden Britannia Company. The display case is a work of art in itself. In all the State Fairs I have been to I have never seen anything so opulent.

You can see the picture and its accompanying descriptions here.

Hard Times

The economy is tough and I know that my budget is not going as far as it used to. However, this is not the first time that the U.S. has had an economic downturn. Silver plate companies as manufactures of "luxury goods" were and are often hit hard by economic downturns. Not only were they makers of goods that were tied to expendable income, but they are also tied to the prices of precious metals.

This article from 1894, highlights this. It mentions the Meriden Britannia Company and their production.

"RENEWED ACTIVITY IN TRADE; AN ENCOURAGING REVIVAL IN ALL CLASSES OF BUSINESS. Statements of Manufacturers and Retailers in Many Brunches of Trade -- The City Full of Buyers from All Harts of the United States -- An Immediate Improvement Followed the Settlement of the Tariff Question -- A Steady Revival, Not a "Boom."


September 7, 1894, Wednesday


"There has been a general revival in all classes of business consequent on the settlement of the tariff question, and the restoration thereby of public confidence. The New-York Times prints interviews to-day which show something of the extent to which the improvement has been felt by the business men of this city."



You can (and should) read he entire article in .pdf format here.

Fire Sale

I have read previously a bit about this fire. Although I cannot remember the source. If it is the same one I am thinking of it destroyed several manufactures and provided an opportunity to update equipment and techniques in the silver plate industry.

The Late Fire at Meriden, Conn.

July 27, 1870, Wednesday

The damage to the works of the Meriden Britannia Company, of Meriden, Conn., by the fire of July 16, seems to have been scarcely so great as was at first reported. The three upper floors only of the main building were destroyed and the loss of machinery, shafting, , in them, was pretty heavy; but it is very much less than the insurance, and the work of rebuilding will be commenced immediately.

You can read the entire article in .pdf format here.

Centenial Exhibition

Marina Moskowitz in her book Standards of Living goes to great lengths to demonstrate the importance of the Centennial Exhibition to making silver plate a normal and acceptable part of American households. It also helped to overcome the prejudice that people had against silver plate as being an object that was poorly made. Her work focuses on Reed and Barton and its involvement in this process. She mentions how awards from these exhibitions were used in advertisements as well as allowing people to view the wares. She also mentions that news coverage of exhibitions also provided important advertisement in educating and shaping public opinion.

This article from the New York Times Archive dated December 17 1876 covers the involvement of the Meriden Britannia Company. It covers their signature finish and how they were received by the public.

You can read the full article in .pdf format here.

I have not done any research there yet, but there is a digital collection of material from the Centennial Exhibition.


You can check it out here. If you find something interesting let me know.

Crime! Is your silverplate part of the loot?

This is an article from the New York Times Archives. Dated February 1st 1902, it highlights a robbery at the Meridian Britannia Company.

"BURGLARS ENTER BIG FIFTH AVENUE STORE; Silverware Stolen from the Meriden Britannia Company. Thieves Do Their Work in the Full Glare of Double Electric Lights -- Loss Now Estimated at $5,000."

"Burglars forced the Fifth Avenue entrance of the store of the Meriden Britannia Company at 1,128-1,130 Broadway some time Thursday night and are believed to have carried away a whole carriage load of carefully selected silverware from the counters of the establishment, which is one of the largest of its kind in the country."


You can view the entire article in .pdf format here.

December 16th 1874

"The great store of the Meriden Britannia Company, at No. 550 Broadway, is at all seasons of the year one of the sights of New York, but during the holidays it is not to be surpassed; for all the masterpieces of its treasure cupboards are taken out of their cases, and displayed to view."

This article from The New York Times Archives highlights the Meriden Britannia Company during the holidays. People often claim that there is a greater conjunction of buisness and news in the modern period. I think this article, that hardly qualifies as "real news" helps to show that this was never the case.



You can view the article as a .pdf here.

Another Refrence from the New York Times Archives

August 29, 1915

"GEORGE M. CURTIS DEAD.; Prominent Meriden Business Man and Banker Was 58."

This obituary is for Mr. George M. Curtis the former director of the International Silver Company and the Meriden Britannia Company. The obituary is a short and interesting read. It highlights his service in the community, the organizations he belonged to and his many directorships and companies.

You can download it as a .pdf here.

More on the Meriden Britannia Comapny.

This article published December 7th 1875 is a bit strange. It starts with a brief explanation of the amicable resolution of a secret society problem at Princeton. Then it gives a glowing report on the Meriden Britannia Company. Finally, it covers a bit of murder.

It does highlight the company as being responsible for electro-plate wares.

You can download it as a .pdf here.

The Meriden Britannia Company

The New York Times published this article December 11, 1877. It mainly covers the type of wares they manufacture and the fact that they now have two store. It is available as a free .pdf download.

"The celebrated Meriden Britannia Company have now two stores in this City, one at No. 550 Broadway, the other--their new one--at No. 46 East Fourteenth-street, (Union-square.)"