1 2

3

4

VICTORIAN FIGURAL

NAPKIN RINGS

Figural napkin rings are primarily an American

phenomena. They date from 1869 to about 1900. They were used at a time when cloth napkins – for family use – were only washed once a week. So, each member of the family had a different figural napkin ring so that they could identify their own napkin. As fancy as we think they look, the napkin rings were not used for company, as company got a clean napkin! These rings were not something only rich people owned – they were very every day items - they were even sold via the Sears, Roebuck catalogue!

Yet, this fact does not take away from the importance or desirability of figural napkin

rings. During the Victorian era in America, dining in the home was a gracious and important facet of family life. American figural napkin rings are all silverplated. The base metal for figural napkin rings is britannia metal - a combination of tin, copper and antimony. Britannia is similar to pewter; yet, it is more brilliant, harder and more resistant to wear than pewter.

The Victorian period is the period in our history that involves the tremendous impact of the Industrial Revolution. Mass production became a way of life. A whole new middle class developed. People who could not afford sterling bought silverplated items for their dining room. These beautiful products flooded the homes of Victorian America.

Silverplate manufacturers bought and sold figures and parts from each other. The practice was common. So, it is not unusual to see the same figure or similar figural napkin rings by two different companies.

As the offerings of the silverplate companies expanded, the rings themselves seemed to become secondary to their elaborately sculptured figures. Perhaps they were originally intended to encourage children to roll and store their napkins.

Figural designs broadened to reflect the owner’s personality, occupation or hobby. Others featured sports, mythology, characters, or themes in nursery rhymes and stories.

Birds were very popular on figural napkin rings. Animals range from domestic cats and dogs to barnyard animals - goats, cows, horses and sheep - to exotic animals such as giraffes, camels and elephants.

Written by: Sandra J. Whitson

A pair of napkin rings featuring a male

and a female tennis player. These rings

will be found marked by both Meriden Britannia Co. (of

Meriden, CT) and by Rogers, Smith

& Co. The Rogers companies were

absorbed by Meriden Britannia Co. This is

a spectacular pair!

Napkin holders on wheels, pulled by people or a variety of animals, must have been enjoyed by children, as the wheels really turn!

Cherubs and cupids were another very popular theme. You can find military subjects, marine life (turtles, dolphins, frogs) as well as flowers, fruits and berries. During the Victorian period, many Americans were fascinated with the exotic Orient; and this fascination is also reflected in the napkin rings. There are also Egyptian themes.

Napkin rings with budvases were a way for people to add flowers for extra color at the table. They were originally sold with velvet flowers. Budvases were both silverplated and glass. Needless to say, the original glass budvases are rare; as so many must have been broken.

Another very popular subject is children; particularly those inspired by the figures created by Kate Greenaway. Kate Greenaway was born in London, England in 1846. She was an artist and book illustrator known for her charming childrens’ books. Kate Greenaway was one of four children. Her father was a wood engraver who illustrated many London periodicals. Kate obviously inherited her father’s artistic ability. Kate and her family would sometimes summer in the English countryside in the Victorian village of Rolleston. In this town, the people preserved a connection with their 18th century ancestors. Many wore old-fashioned clothes. The working men wore embroidered smocks; the women wore large bonnets and frilly dresses. All of this was to influence Kate’s

later art work. The children she drew were dressed in clothes that were of an earlier period than that in which Kate actually lived. Kate Greenaway did illustrations for the Philadelphia-based Ladies Home Journal magazine, which greatly increased her popularity in the United States. Many tabletop accessories were ones with Kate Greenaway-type figures - figural napkin rings; figural toothpick holders; salt and pepper shakers; pickle castors. Obviously, Kate Greenaway herself did not do all of this - people copied her style. Kate Greenaway figures capture the tranquillity and innocence of children. They were romantic and nostalgic. The napkin rings incorporating Greenaway- types are among the most sought-after rings today.

Another category of figural napkin rings is the combination set. The sets can include open salts, pepper shakers, butter plates, as well as the napkin holder. They might also include various types of condiment holders, some of which were glass and/or art glass. Some of these can get very elaborate and be on wheels.

Most of the silverplate companies were located in the New England area - Massachusetts and Connecticut. The companies are many. Meriden Britannia Company was probably the most prolific of the companies. Other big companies were: James Tufts; Derby Silver Company;

surface that a merger would be beneficial. In November of 1898, many of the companies merged to become The International Silver Company. Meriden Britannia was the leading spirit in the formation of International Silver Company.

As the 19th Century was coming to a close, times were changing quickly. The years before WWI brought a change in lifestyle. The emergence of automobiles, buses and trolleys, and the creation of more roads, meant transportation away from the cities and into the suburbs. Life no longer centered in the cities; and there were other things for busy people to do. Figural silverplated napkin rings were a fashion that would fade. WWI imposed an austere period. A simplicity of objects took place in the Art Deco period, which lasted through the Great Depression.

Then, the 1950’s inspired a revival of all things antique. People began collecting mementos from America’s past. Items from the Victorian period – particularly figural napkin rings – regained favor. Today, as in Victorian times, these figural napkin rings can start many conversations at a dinner table; and create the thrill they once commanded.

Article courtesy of Sandra Whitson from Sandra Whitson Antiques. For questions please contact her at (717) 626-4978, or by email at npknring@ptd.net.

1. This napkin ring was one of the few

rings actually given a name by the manufac-turer. It was made by

Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co., of Wallingford, CT. It is pictured in an

1878 catalogue from the company, and he

is named Rip Van Winkle. It is a large and impressive ring and probably one of

the mostsought-after rings.2. Figural napkin

rings are an American product, produced from 1869 - 1900.

All are silverplated. This example was manufactured by

Simpson, Hall,Miller & Co.

of Wallingford, CT. Branches and leaves rest on a scalloped,

round base with ball feet. A Kate Greena-

way-type girl holding a stick plays with a

baby girl aloft in the tree limbs

3. Pictured here is a large, standing Cupid, leaning on his bow. A

silverplated budvase and Cupid support the napkin holder between

them. This piece was manufactured by Wil-

cox Silver Plate Co., of Meriden, CT

4. This is an example of a combination set,

with the napkin holder, open salt, pepper shak-

er and butter plate. It was manufactured

by James W. Tufts of Boston, MA.

FIRST PAGe ImAGeS:

Meriden Silver Plate Company; Middletown Plate Co.; Pairpoint Manufacturing Company; Reed & Barton; Rogers & Brother; Roger, Smith & Co; William Rogers Manufacturing Co.; F.B. Rogers Silver Co.; Wm. Rogers & Son; Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co; Wilcox Silver Plate Co.; etc.

There were also many smaller companies; as well as some companies in states other than Connecticut and Massachusetts; such as: Racine Silver Plate Co. and Rockford Silver Plate Co. who were located in Illinois.And, this is by no means an exhaustive list!

Meriden Britannia Co., Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co. and Acme Silver Co. all established factories in Canada shortly after 1879 to avoid an import tariff imposed by the Canadian government to protect Canadian industry. The figural napkin rings produced in Canada by these companies were identical to those sold in the United States. But, new designs were added to their line to appeal to the Canadian market; such as beavers, maple leaves and the sport of curling. Toronto Silver Plate Co. of Toronto, Canada also manufactured a nice line of figural napkin rings.

The Meriden Britannia Company became huge; and their scope became international with the establishment of London and Canadian branches; as well as sales offices in New York, Chicago and San Francisco. Some of the smaller silverplate companies struggled with a depressed business climate that occurred during the latter part of the 1800’s. Add to that the intense competition among the independent companies; and the realization began to