Charter Company Sterling and Carnelian Art Deco Presentation Vase, Hartford, CT, c. late 1920's

This is a lovely trumpet-shaped vase. It has a shiny surface with a simple shaped upper flaring rim. It is ornamented with a ring of beautiful warm Carnelian agate at the neck above the domed base.

The base is engraved with a later presentation inscription:

Best Wishes
to
New England Merchants National Bank
from
Suffolk Franklin Savings Bank
August 30, 1965

I'm not sure what this award was for, however Richard P. Chapman became President of New England Merchants National Bank in 1952, chairman in 1964 and then retired in 1970.

The Charter company was a part of International Silver.  During this period, their silver was made at the Barbour silver plant in Hartford, CT, where International made their high-end, hand-worked sterling silver.  There is only a brief period around the late 1920's when this style of stone-mounted modern silver was being made.  (See Modernism in American Silver by Jules Stern for more details.)

This lovely vase is marked underneath with the Charter Company logo and 'STERLING/ AV2993S. It measures 10 inches tall, weighs 18.80 troy ounces and is in excellent antique condition.