Antique Meriden Britannia Silverplate Tea & Coffee Service 5 pc Set

  

Antique Meriden Britannia Silverplate Tea & Coffee Service 5 pc Set. This set includes a coffee pot, a teapot, I believe the small "teapot" is actually for hot water, a covered sugar bowl and a waste pot. The smallest teapot could be used for tea, hot water or in place of a creamer. All feature clusters of grapes on lid, handle and spouts.

Highly embossed florals and Greek style details. The handles have spacers to prevent them from becoming hot. Three pieces are marked with the circular Meriden Britannia & Co mark, with the pattern number in the center. The smallest teapot has the Meriden scale mark.

The middle size teapot is marked Reed & Barton 1955 and is the same design with the shape, body, grapes and embossing, only the more delicate engravings are slightly different. You really have to look to notice that one is a bit different. Tall teapot 12 1/4" tall 5 1/2" deep 9 3/8 across including handle and spout. Middle teapot 12 1/8" tall 5 1/8" deep 9 across including handle and spout.

Small teapot 10 3/8" tall 5" deep 8 1/2 across including handle and spout. Covered Sugar Bowl with lid 8 3/4" tall 4 1/2" deep 7 3/8 including handles. Waste Pot 5 5/8" tall 5 3/8" wide. The large teapot, the sugar bowl and the waste pot are monogrammed with a B on one side, the opposite side is blank. The other two teapots are not.

History of Meriden Britannia & Co. The inception of silver plated wares industry dates back to 1847 and to the efforts of Rogers brothers who in their little shop at Hartford developed the electro-plating process. But the business finds its origin as early as 1808, with the establishment in Meriden of a small plant for the production of pewter or Britannia ware. At a later date, it was the foresight of the Britannia makers which turned into a success the efforts of the Rogers brothers. Joining together of the mechanical genius of the Hartford experimenters and the practical business ability of the Britannia makers constituted the definite beginning of silverware making as a business.

The Rogers brothers had met with success their activity, but were hampered by lack of capital and qualified organization to market their product. An agreement was reached whereby the genius and skill of the Rogers were joined with the initiative and business ability of the Meriden, and the latter began the production of goods that were later to be described in the catalogue of the Meriden Britannia Co. In the year 1867, as supplying "all the advantages of silver in durability and beauty at one-fifth the cost". Excellent Condition - The two larger tea/coffee pots have small dents, all pieces have very little surface wear and the entire has been very well cared for.