McAuliffe & Hadley Sterling Silver Hand-raised Monteith, Boston, MA, 1914

A monteith is a rare form in American silver. The form and design of this particular one are based on late 18th century English silver examples. Colonial revival objects were reinterpreted and transformed into beautiful pieces like this. Also referred to as verrières, these wine glass holders were used for chilling wine glasses which one would hang inverted around the rim. The wave-like formation of the rim has an applied border of silver wire. The ends have wonderful lion masks clutching large ring handles in their jaws. Beautiful repousséd fluting rises from the oval, spreading base. Although originally used for chilling wine glasses, this stunning bowl would make a dramatic centerpiece for a floral display.

The underside is engraved:

FROM
THE TABLE
JUNE 4, 1914
R.L. EMERSON
J.A, BLANCHARD
S.D. PARKER
M.LUCE
A.B. NICHOLS
J.W. MARINER
J.A. LOWELL
A.J. CUMNOCK

We do not know the significance of the presentation and the date. We have found that each of the men listed graduated from Harvard in 1891 and were members of the Alpha Delta Phi Society.

McAuliffe & Hadley are thought to be retailers only. While the maker did not mark this piece, there is a known relationship between McAuliffe & Hadley and Richard Dimes Company of South Boston (see here). Entirely hand raised and decorated, this fine piece shows many characteristics of Dimes' better pieces and may be from his shop.

This magnificent bowl is marked underneath 'McAULIFFE & HADLEY/ BOSTON/ STERLING.'  It measures 11 inches long by 8.75 inches wide by 7.5 inches high, weighs 40.30 troy ounces and is in very good/ excellent antique condition.