J.E.Caldwell & Co, Help please

[spobby]

Acquired this large piece recently. I realise that Caldwell & Co are large retailers and sometime manufacturers of sterling silver, however, am slightly puzzled about the crown/letter/lion marks, as I haven't seen any Caldwell silver with these marks previously.
Also - any idea what this dish would have been used for, with a pierced lift-off lid?

Many thanks in advance
Regards
John

[SteveDWollongong]

Hi John,

The crown / letter "W" /lion are the makers mark for the Watson Company of Massachusetts. So, your dish was made by Watson Company and retailed by J.E.Caldwell & Co.

You can find out more about the Watson Company here;

http://www.925-1000.com/americansilver_W2.html

As far as the purpose of the dish, I can only make a guess based on the perforated lid that it may have been to hold potpourri or similar. Hopefully someone else can give you a more definite answer on this.

Steve

[dragonflywink]

Your item is a centerpiece bowl with a pierced flower arranger, the top piece is often silver plated, if sterling, will be marked as such. Watson's crown/W/lion mark was used from 1910.

~Cheryl

[spobby]

Thanks guys, very helpful.
It was the 'pineapple' knop that was misleading me.
Thanks again
Regards
John

[dragonflywink]

I find them in catalogs from as early as the 1910s, but here are several similar pieces shown in a 1940 retailer's catalog:



~Cheryl