Dinner Fork, "Lotus Pattern"
Decorative Arts and Design
MEDIUM
Silver-plate
DATES
patented September 16, 1884
DIMENSIONS
7 5/8 x 1 x 3/4 in. (19.4 x 2.5 x 1.9 cm)
MARKINGS
Stamped on back: "(illegible, but should read: 18)34 J.RUSSELL CO. (diamond)"
SIGNATURE
Unsigned
INSCRIPTIONS
no inscriptions
ACCESSION NUMBER
1989.71.13
CREDIT LINE
Purchased with funds given by Joseph V. Garry
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Silver-plate, with four straight tines. The decoration begins with short elongated molded triangle between two quarter circles topped by three thin horizontal lines. Above is a vertical line of tiny beads between horizontal bands topped by six thin horizontal bands divided by a horizontal row of tiny beads. The sides of the handle then flare out to form a broad area at the end of the handle and then curve inward to form a point at the end of the handle. In this broad area of the handle above the mid-point are four small sunflowers and leafy stems against a background of dense extremely small dots around a small elongated diamond shape with a grid design in its center out of the top of which emerges a large elongated oval with pointed ends that fills the end of the handle. The oval is framed by a border of two thin lines and an inner beaded border. In the center of this oval is an impressed deer head with antlers in profile. In the upper point of the oval is a short diagonal branch with two small sunflowers and three leaves and a partially open fan that fits into the point of the end of the handle. The reverse has similar but abbreviated decoration that includes a schematic fan in the point of the end of the handle and two small sunflowers on a short diagonal branch with four leaves above six thin horizontal lines separated by a narrow horizontal row of very small dots. Lotus Pattern.
CONDITION - Good. The plate is bright. Slight overall scratching due to normal wear. There are dents on the back of the handle where the deer head was hammered, which suggest that it was added after the manufacture.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
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