Bigelow Brothers & Kennard Sterling Railroad Presentation Tray, Boston, MA, 1864

This lovely presentation tray is raised on four scrolled feet with foliage and bead decoration, The applied border consists of repeating ovals and a row of small beading. The flat tray exhibits exceptional engraving with Greek key design and scrolling foliage with four circular devices with coat-of-arms signifying the route of the railroad. Clockwise from the top are Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and Albany.

Engraved in the center oval is the presentation:

PRESENTED TO
Hon. George A. Shaw
BY HIS FRIENDS
in appreciation of the courtesies shown them/
on their trip over the
BOSTON & WORCESTER & WESTERN RAILROADS,
to and from
ALBANY
on the 20th and 22d of February,
1864

George A. Shaw was Director of Western Railroads.

Underneath this presentation are engraved 21 names of people from various professions, including Jonathan E. Field, who was President of the Massachusetts Senate at the time, and people from other railroads, insurance, merchants, etc.

This wonderful tray is marked underneath 'BIGELOW BROS. & KENNARD/ BOSTON/ STERLING.' While unmarked by the maker, it most likely came from the shop of Vincent Laforme of Boston. It measures 16.5 inches long by 13 inches wide by 1.5 inches high, weighs 45 troy ounces and is in very good/ excellent antique condition.