Lot #69: Vintage Mid-Century Silver-Plated Entertaining Collection

Collection of vintage mid-century silver-plated tableware and bar accessories. Combining celebrated historic silversmiths from the United States, Canada, and Italy, this curated estate lot offers exceptional hosting utility and a beautifully coordinated aesthetic. The collection includes: • Meriden Silver Plate Co. Covered Vegetable/Entree Dish (Model 2212): An Art Deco-era, heavy oval-shaped serving piece featuring an elegant beaded border and structural handles. The dual-handled lid is uniquely engineered to invert, doubling seamlessly as a secondary open serving platter. Stamped on the base with the historic scale crest and maker's mark: "Meriden S.P. Co., International S. Co., 2212". • Primrose Plate Water Pitcher (Model 907): A classic, bulbous Canadian-made presentation pitcher with a wide pouring lip and a stylized scroll handle. Stamped on the base: "Primrose Plate, E.P. Copper, B.M. Mounts, 907". • William Adams Italian Silver Wire Wine Bottle Cradle: An elegant navette-form openwork wire basket with a sunburst medallion base, perfectly designed to cradle and elegantly pour a standard 750ml wine bottle. Stamped on the base: "Quality Silverplate, Italy, WA". Meriden Silver Plate Co. (Covered Dish) • The "Founding Father" Connection: Meriden was one of the original, elite Connecticut silver companies that came together in 1898 to form the International Silver Company, which became the largest and most dominant silver manufacturer in the world. • Dating the Piece: The specific combination of the Meriden name alongside the "International S. Co." branding—paired with the balance-scale graphic crest—pins the production of this dish between 1921 and 1938. This guarantees it as a genuine Art Deco-era piece of American dining history. • The Double-Serving Feature: Highlight that these early 20th-century covered vegetable dishes were specifically engineered for efficiency; the handle on the lid is intentionally low-profile so that when the cover is removed and flipped upside down, it sits perfectly flat and doubles as a second open serving bowl. Primrose Plate (Water Pitcher) • A Canadian Legacy: Primrose Plate is a deeply nostalgic brand for Canadian collectors, manufactured by the Birks-Ellis-Ryrie conglomerate (associated with Henry Birks & Sons, Canada's premier luxury jewelry and silver retailer). It represents mid-century Canadian craftsmanship at its finest. • The "Bleeding Copper" Appeal: The base stamp "E.P. COPPER" means the silver was electroplated over solid copper. Over decades of polishing, the copper subtly begins to peek through on the high points and edges (a process collectors call "bleeding"). This gives the pitcher a warm, glowing golden undertone that collectors of traditional estate silver actively search for. • Crisp Details: The "B.M. MOUNTS" stamp proves that the ornate handle and rim details were cast in Britannia Metal (a premium pewter-like alloy) before being silver-plated. This allowed the artisans to create crisp, deeply defined border patterns that do not warp or bend under the heavy weight of a full pitcher. William Adams (Italian Wire Wine Cradle) • The Towle Import Luxury: The "WA" crest stands for William Adams, a high-end decorative division acquired and imported by the world-famous Towle Silversmiths. • Master Italian Craftsmanship: Towle specifically used the William Adams brand to commission artistic hollowware and bar items directly from master silversmiths in Italy. Mid-century Italian silver plate is universally praised for its incredibly smooth welds, perfectly balanced geometry, and high-quality plating. • The Ultimate Bar Cart Essential: Rather than just a basket, this is a vintage Italian wine-pouring cradle instantly shifts it into the high-demand vintage barware market. It is highly collectible for modern home decorators styling mid-century bar carts or looking for luxury, high-end host gifts. Pickup category timeslot {A}