F. Smith Sterling Silver Child Bowl & Underplate with Embossed Animal Motifs
Frank W. Smith sterling silver bowl (gilt inside) and underplate, beautifully embossed with natural and animal motifs, including frogs, geese, and birds. The bowl measures 4 1/2'' in diameter by 2 1/3'' in height while the underplate measures 6 7/8'' in diameter. Total weight is 11.6 troy ounces and hallmarks are shown.
Frank W. Smith was trained as a silversmith by his uncle, William Durgin. William B. Durgin Company (1853 - 1924) was a noted American sterling silver manufacturer based in Concord, New Hampshire, and one of the largest flatware and hollowware manufacturers in the United States. The Durgin company made the Davis Cup, the silver service for the battleship USS New Hampshire, and medals for St. Paul's School. Its Fairfax flatware was for some years the best-selling pattern in the United States. Durgin’s masterful silver is displayed in major museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
After training at his uncle, Frank W. Smith opened his own shop in 1886, making sterling silver flatware. His business grew rapidly, and the factory was completed in 1892. Smith hired Arthur J. Stone, a Scottish silversmith, as a lead designer and supervisor, and also began producing handcrafted products as well as machine-made ones. During the course of its history the company’s silver services became the possession of notable individuals such as Princess Grace of Monaco and Queen Elizabeth II of England. The business continued under a succession of owners until 1958.
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