Meriden Britannia Company (1852–1898). <em>Inkwell and Liner</em>, ca. 1886. Silver-plate on white metal, 4 x 6 1/2 x 3 1/4 in. (10.2 x 16.5 x 8.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, H. Randolph Lever Fund, 1990.158a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1990.158_bw.jpg)

Meriden Britannia Company (1852–1898). Inkwell and Liner, ca. 1886. Silver-plate on white metal, 4 x 6 1/2 x 3 1/4 in. (10.2 x 16.5 x 8.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, H. Randolph Lever Fund, 1990.158a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1990.158_bw.jpg)

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Meriden Britannia Company was founded by brothers Horace and Dennis Wilcox in Meriden, Connecticut in 1852. Britannia does not refer to England, but actually to a kind of shiny metal that is not silver, but looks more like pewter does. Eventually, thanks to advancements in technology, Meriden Britannia Co. was able to begin coating objects in a thin layer of silver using a process called electro-plating. This is how the inkwell here was produced.

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Both of these silver pieces were acquired with the funds from the H. Randolph Lever Fund in the early 1990 and 1992 as indicated in their accession numbers.

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Inkwell and Liner

Decorative Arts and Design

On View: Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor

MAKER Meriden Britannia Company, 1852–1898

MEDIUM Silver-plate on white metal

Place Printed: Meriden, Connecticut, United States

DATES ca. 1886

DIMENSIONS 4 x 6 1/2 x 3 1/4 in. (10.2 x 16.5 x 8.3 cm) (show scale)

MARKINGS On bottom in interlocking circles: "B.MERIDEN / COMPANY" surrounding scales and "QUADRUPLE PLATE; 37 / U.S.A."

SIGNATURE Unsigned

INSCRIPTIONS no inscriptions

COLLECTIONS Decorative Arts and Design

ACCESSION NUMBER 1990.158a-b

CREDIT LINE H. Randolph Lever Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Inkwell (a) and liner (b) realistically modeled as head of an elephant with projecting tusks and curved trunk; hinged lid corresponds to head trapping of elephant and has a realistically modeled figure of a monkey playing a flute as finial. Inside lid is simple cylindrical liner (b) with flaring, out-turned rim; liner fits into circular socket under lid. CONDITION: Normal wear with slight corrosion but very good; inkwell retains traces of original oxidized surface. Liner is worn and corroded in interior.

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor

CAPTION Meriden Britannia Company (1852–1898). Inkwell and Liner, ca. 1886. Silver-plate on white metal, 4 x 6 1/2 x 3 1/4 in. (10.2 x 16.5 x 8.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, H. Randolph Lever Fund, 1990.158a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1990.158_bw.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 1990.158_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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