Late 19th Century "Large Chick on Oval Base" Silver Plated Figural Victorian Napkin Ring; Meriden

Details

Description

Avian aficionados will be attracted to this authentic and all original Victorian silver plated figural napkin ring portraying a large … Read more Avian aficionados will be attracted to this authentic and all original Victorian silver plated figural napkin ring portraying a large chick pushing along a beautifully decorated ring while resting on an oval base. The ring is in excellent condition with no repairs or restoration of any kind and maintains almost all of it's original silver plating. The bird is highly detailed displaying a multiplicity of feathers while his eyes track the ring with the beak pushing along the ring. The actual ring is in the shape of a bow tie with repousse detailed floral and wreath pattern to the edge circumference which is painstakingly more tedious to create than a "true round" ring. The ring is marked on the underneath "Meriden B. Company" with the double scale logo and the number "222".

The Meriden Britannia Company was located in Meriden Connecticut and was a leading manufacturer of figural napkin rings and other silver plated items of the late 19th century.

Large Chick On Oval Base" is memorialized as Plate 266 on page 112 and referenced as manufacturer's number "222" in Gottschalk and Sandra Whitson book "Figural Napkin Rings" published in 1996.

In the Victorian era family tradition each family member had their own distinctive napkin ring since the napkin was to be re-used for subsequent meals (no washing machines in those days); while guests got to have their own designated ring also. Nowadays, silver plated Victorian figural napkin rings have become quite collectible with some dinner hosts placing napkin rings in their place servings trying to match up and reflect characteristics and personality traits of their prospective guests with the subject matter and theme of the ring.

Be vigilant of reproductions, as fakes are abundant. I guarantee the originality of this ring to be original and Victorian. With Victorian napkin rings, it's all about condition when determining quality and value.

Dimensions: 2 3/4" high x 1 3/4" wide x 3 5/8" long

Provenance:
From our own personal collection of original silver plated figural Victorian napkin rings; this example having been acquired in 1993.

Note: I am a second generation antiques dealer and have been dealing in fine quality decorative arts, furniture, jewelry, and paintings for more than 50 years; I am also a member of several prestigious antique associations. Thus, I am well qualified to inspect and evaluate the products I offer for sale and I guarantee this to be authentic and as I have described. See less