Object Name: Pitcher, Ice Water
Object ID: 1972.055.01 - .02
Creator: Meriden Britannia CompanyManufacturer
Place of Origin: Meriden, CT
Date: 1895 circa
Description: Tilting Cold Water Pitcher, On Tray; part of a set including goblet and bowl (1972.55.1-.4). Silver plate. Pitcher is insulated and lined with a white enameled liner. Inside pitcher is a removable metal disk with a hole in the center, which may have been used as a separator between ice and fluid inside. Pitcher has a loop handle attached, hinged lid and covered spout with a hinged spout flap. Pitcher also has a knob on each side which sets into "u"-shaped holders attached to the tray. Lid is dome-shaped with a tall fan-shaped finial. Lid decoration is etched and includes scrolls, diamonds, flowers and leaves. Handle is cast and is extensively decorated with flowers. The upper handle juncture is decorated with a geometric design. Spout is cast and decorated with flowers, leaves and a swag. The body of the pot is cylindrical with band around the base that is fully decorated in a scroll, flower and leaf motif. Bottom narrows slightly to a circular base ring. Stamped on bottom are two circles; the left circle contains a scale within a shield surrounded with the text in upper case sans-serif lettering: "MERIDEN B*COMPANY". The right circle has the following text also in upper case sans-serif lettering: "MERIDEN,CT". Also stamped on bottom in upper case sans-serif letters, incuse: "PATD JUNE 13.1868/PATD NOV.3D 1868/36". There are two holes in the bottom of the pitcher.
The tray is a flat circular tray with a convex shoulder and a flat 1" brim. Two cast handles attach to the tray. Above one handle are two uprights made of metal rods in a "D" shape and filled with decorative elements including leaves, branches, berries and scrolls. The leaves are cut sheet metal whereas the other elements are metal rods. A single, curved rod connects the two uprights approximately, 3 1/2" above the tray. Brim of tray decorated fully with flowers and scrolls. Handles are also decorated with flowers and scrolls. Center of tray as well as the inner edge of the tray have bands of roulette work. Square metal support under tray handle near the uprights. Stamped on underside of the other handle in a circle is a scale within a shield surrounded in upper case sans-serif letters: "MERIDEN / B*COMPANY". Beneath the mark is stamped the number "36" incuse.
Material: Metal
Silver
Dimensions: H-14.25 W-14.75 D-11 inches
Provenance: The donor, Alexis Chapman Proctor (1895-1979), made several donations of Proctor family household furnishings through the 1960s and 1970s; the family resided in Franklin, N.H. However, no provenance was provided with this object.
According to notes in the accession file, this piece matches one in an 1895 sales catalog.
Credit Line: Gift of Alexis Chapman Proctor
People:
Proctor, Alexis C. (1895-1979)