Whiting Antique Sterling Silver Calla Lily Presentation Basket, NYC, NY, c. 1872

With its matte finish and light gilding, the interior of this bowl forms a large, exotic, unfolding calla lily leaf with stunning details. The underside of the bowl has a glistening texture and shows the leaf details. Wire stem handles arch upwards with two leaves flanking a lily in full bloom. Like the bowl interior, these decorative elements are lightly gilt, have a textured finish and are quite impressive.

An attached, pedestal base is engraved with the following presentation:

To
Captain Wm. A. Hallett
from the Passengers
Steamer Wm. Lawrence
from Baltimore to Boston
June 20th-24th 1872

The SS William Lawrence was built in Boston in 1869 by the Atantic Ironworks. “The SS William Lawrence was the first to be equipped with a surface condenser and the company’s first iron screw propeller steamer. The Merchants and Miners Transportation Company was involved primarily in shipping water hides from leather tanneries in Baltimore, mine products and various raw materials from the manufacturing plants of New England; and to bring back from Boston finished products, particularly shoes and clothing.”(1)

William Allen Hallett was born in Hyannis, MA in 1819. "In 1854 he entered the service of Merchants' and Miners' Transportation Co." ... When the Civil War broke out he was in command of the Ben Deford." (2)

Provenance: Private Collection.

This exquisite bowl is marked with Whiting's trademark and 'STERLING/ 369' and retailed through 'N. HARDING & CO' from Boston. It measures 12.75 inches long by 11 inches to the top of the handle, weighs 26.40 troy ounces and is in excellent antique condition.

Endnotes:

1. South Carolina Department of Archives and History, National Register Properties in South Carolina: http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/beaufort/S10817707064/
2. Captain William Allen Hallett memorial: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/122587595/william-allen-hallett