The intriguing baroque style spoon & fork from Italy

This set of ornate baroque style utensils is beautiful and intriguing.  Measuring about 7 inches each is boldly marked “Italy” on the reverse of the handle terminal.  Interestingly they are not written in the same direction and upon closer inspection it seems they are written by different people, most notably the “Y”, with the spoon having a 2 stroke unsymmetrical “Y, and the fork being a symmetrical 3 stroke “Y”.  Additionally each letter has slightly different lines to it.

 

I’m guessing it to be high grade pewter, with more of a tin, rather than lead content.  They definitely appear dinged up as soft pewter might, but I’ve personally not seen such a good shine on pewter before.  There seems good evidence of being hand made.  There is a wide fluctuation of thickness through out each piece, and the holes through are varied in design, with no two being an identical shape.  There is one, and occasionally 2 facets of vertical striations on the edges, which sometimes switch directions and tilt. 

 

The terminal has what appears to be 2 lions surround the same pattern of 6 dots used in the bowls, and at the shoulders of the bowls is a male figure with a long mustache.  A crown is at the drop into the bowl as well as at the terminal.  The stem is a more indistinguishable filigree pattern with sections that are completely open.  The spoon weights 2.2 ounces and the fork, 1.8.

I’m also guessing this pair was made around the turn of the 20^th century.  Knowing Italy wasn’t a unified country until 1870 or so, it seems more likely if it was prior to that time that the local state / regional name or personal mark would have been used.  Knowing also that though it’s not a hard fast rule, most items made after about 1920 or so typically include “Made In” before the country name. 

 

I do have a theory that this set was not made together, but combined later.  The decoration on these two pieces, though seemingly identical do have variances that might be indicative of a latter run, most telling is the difference of the quality / wear in the man’s face on the shoulder, and the 6 raised dots between the lions. 

 

Comments, suggestions, corrections?

This item is for sale here

Looking for even more?

Silverware

Baroque style

pewter

Italy

Antique Grand Hotel Plate

There is a fascination to hold a true antique, a vintage piece of history over 100 years old.  This Mackinac Island Grand Hotel plate is the first true antique we’ve sold.  It is a ceramic decorative plate about 7 inches in diameter, sold to a great home in Chicago.

The Piece

The front of this piece is a ornate scene showing the front of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island Michigan.  The back has several marks. The Adams and the Jonroth marks are of particular interest and tell us a considerable amount about this piece.

Makers William Adam and Sons are potters out of Staffordshire UK, making wears since 1769, and what I can tell are still in operation.  They have used many different marks on their pieces over the years and during the turn of the century there were at least 10 different marks being used by the company during that time.  I managed to locate a very similar mark used by the company during the 1910s, 20s, and 30s.  However a distinct difference is that the “Adams” is above the crown, whereas on this plate is it below the crown.  So it seems likely the mark on this piece is perhaps an earlier version being used a bit earlier.  Particularly when tied to the associated Jonroth mark.

The Jonroth company, out of South Bend, Indiana, were importers of historical or souvenir designs pottery into the USA from 1890- 1909.  In 1909 they sold their business to the Wheelock Company also in Indiana.  They used the trade name: "Old English Staffordshire Ware" and were known to partner with the Adams factory in Staffordshire.  There is a clear provenance that this mark was used by the Jonroth Company between 1890 and 1909, which dates this piece over 100 years old.

The Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel opened on Mackinac Island, Michigan, in 1887, with room rates of $3 - $5 per night and is still in operation.  It boasted the longest porch in the world, with no two guest rooms being exactly alike, and quickly become a destination for the famous and not so famous, from around the world. This National Historic Landmark  has hosting a Mark Twain lecture and two Hollywood films, just to give you a sense of the place. 

One of the most fascinating aspect of this place is that Mackinac Island where the Grand Hotel sits,  is an island without automobiles.  Flagging down a horse and carriage or hopping on a bicycle are the favored methods to get around.  The island sits out in Lake Huron, right off the tip of the fingers of the mitten that is, Michigan.

This item has been SOLD.  

Want more?

islands

Mackinac Island

Michigan

Pottery

Grand Hotel

Decorative plates

Antiques