Art Dealers Association of America Tableware

Though unmarked, this napkin ring was most certainly made by The Meriden Britannia Co. and came in two versions; one with a platform beneath the boy; this example has the young boy resting one foot on the ground pulling on the napkin ring. It is similar in appearance, and the figure is almost identical to the ring found on page 263; plate 647 "Figural Napkin Rings" by Sandra Whitson; the only difference being the upturned toe part of the right foot on this example. The Meriden Britannia Co. was formed in 1852 by Isaac Lewis, along with three other partners in Meriden, Connecticut. The ring is circa 1885, the heyday of Victorian figural napkin rings...

This is a very rare American silver plated Victorian figural napkin ring; attaining the status of A+ (rarest; only a few examples known) in Sandra...

Animal and bird themed napkin rings were quite popular, and used frequently by silver plate manufacturers. They are highly sought after by collectors of Victorian figural napkin rings. Manufactured by the Middleton Plate Company, Middleton Connecticut, Circa 1885; the company was formed in 1864 by Edward Payne...

Made by The Meriden Britannia Co. this napkin ring came in two versions; the adult size and the smaller child's size. The ring was manufactured by the well renowned Meriden Brittania...

One of the more common of the much sought after animal themed silver plated Victorian napkin rings, this ring depicts a small bird, perched upon...

This is an early ring and a difficult one to find; manufactured by a small company in business for only four years. The Pashley Silver Plate Company began operations in 1877 in Bridg...

This very elegant and highly decorated ring is of the finest quality; manufactured by The Rockford Silver Plate Company in Racine, Wisconsin, circa 1884. It serves the dual function of housing a cloth napkin, and providing a vessel to hold a rose bud or small flower. The popular animal or insect theme is presented here, with this nice, substantial, and heavy ring, decorated and deeply embossed with a butterfly, a rosebud, and a preponderance of leaves. The bud vase has a scalloped edge to the top, and the ring itself is almost completely decorated except for a small band where the dedication is printed, "To Mother From Walter & Mary Dec. 22, 1884"; very nice provenance and documentation. The four fancy feet are highly decorated with a floral geometric pattern around the rectangular circumference of the base of the ring. The underneath markings are as follows "Quadruple, Rockford Silver Plate (with scales as a logo in the center), and the number 171 (product number). For those seeking a unique and charming piece of Americana, this is a perfect item for both seasoned collectors and novice aficionados of fine decorative objects. All in all, this is a beautiful and representative Victorian figural napkin ring...

This is another in the long line of highly desirable animal themed silver plated Victorian napkin rings, except this particular ring is especially sought after because it mounts the same dog that is found on the rare "Rip Van Winkle...

The "Long Tailed Bird" silver plated napkin ring is typical of those rings popular during the Victorian era, and much sought after today by collectors in pursuit of animals both dome...

Animal themed Victorian napkin rings are sought after by collectors, perhaps because they remind them of pets they have; this particular ring depicts a cat whimsically playing with a ball of yarn, thus the name "Cat With A Ball of Yarn". It is in all original condition with almost all of it's original silver plate intact. Great detail to the casting of the ball of yarn and the cat with string, facial features, and cat's hair readily observable. A leaf pattern decorates the actual ring for holding the napkin. The number "0234" is embossed on one of the monogram bars around the ring indicating Meriden Silver Plate...

Birds of all types were a common theme for Victorian silver plated napkin rings. Of American manufacture, this particular ring depicts a hig...

As with all Victorian figurals, this combination silver plated Turtle napkin ring and attached bud vase is much sough after by Americana collectors. Rings were used, not only for entertaining and special occasions, but also to identify each member of the family's napkin, since the laundry was not done daily and the napkins were reused. This ring has a decorated band around the circumference, with birds and other Egyptian motif. It rests on the back of the turtle, who is on a floral base. The attached vessel, which serves as a bud vase, and doubles up as a toothpick holder, is highly decorated in great detail with an Egyptian motif consisting of palm trees, pyramids, birds, and a typical Egyptian figure...