Antique Meriden Sterling Silver Bowl Art Nouveau

This 9" sterling silver bowl was made by the Meriden Britannia Company, founded in 1852 by brothers Horace and Dennis Wilcox. The Wilcox brothers perfected a silver plating process for Britannia, turning the Meriden, Connecticut based company into a thriving business. In 1895, Meriden Britannia acquired sterling silver manufacturer Wilcox & Everton of New York, and began producing fine sterling hollowware. Meriden was absorbed into the International Silver Company in 1898 and their hallmark continued to be used until the 1930's.

This elegant sterling silver Meriden Britannia bowl has a pretty Art Nouveau influenced design featuring a floriform eight lobed body. The design serves to catch and reflect light, adding visual interest when the bowl is displayed. The walls of the bowl rise to an everted banded rim. The piece measures 9" in diameter from the outside edges of the rim and stands 1.625" from the tabletop to the top of the rim.

The bowl is in good condition with no removals or repairs. As an antique item, it should be noted that there are some age related light scratches and minor creases present on the bowl which add to the patina of the piece. There are also traces of tarnish which I have not attempted to remove. These issues are mentioned for accuracy and as seen in the accompanying photos, the bowl displays beautifully.

The foot of the bowl bears Meriden's phoenix and letter "M" hallmark along with the stamped number "STERLING" and number "714". The piece weighs in at 183g.

This lovely Meriden bowl would be a wonderful addition to a collection of antique sterling silver or works equally well as a stand alone decorative accent. It's nicely sized for serving side dishes at the table, or could be used to hold candy or other treats. I've also seen pieces this size filled with water and used to float blossoms as a unique centerpiece. A charming antique find!