John Wendt Antique Sterling Silver Presentation Dish, NYC, c. 1867

This is a beautiful footed dish of wonderful proportions and classical styling. Bold handles with engraved Moresque decoration are applied at the ends of the oval bowl which has an applied band of anthemion leaves. This decorative banding in a slightly larger size is used on the sides of the base and the neck of the central column. Stately cast griffins on plinths stand guard on the flat, shaped platform base. Curled straps on each side of the column are both decorative and functional as they add strength to the central column.

The sides of the bowl are engraved:

Stephen Van Rensselaer
and
Harriet Elizabeth Bayard
1817        1867
From their daughter
Justine Van Rensselaer Townsend

This stunning bowl was a 50th wedding anniversary gift. The Rensselaer family is regarded as one of the oldest and richest families of New York with many members having prestigious business and military backgrounds.

The incredibly rare marks on this piece are as remarkable as the piece itself. This is the first time in 20 years that we have had these Wendt marks. To date, these marks have been recorded on pieces sold by Braverman & Levy in San Francisco, Ball, Black & Co., and Howard & Co. both of New York City. (Also see "John R. Wendt of Boston and New York" by Diana Cramer in Silver Magazine, May/ June 1992.) Howard & Co. was a great New York jeweler, retailer, and at times, maker of silver.  They opened in 1866, and this is the earliest piece of their retailed silver we have ever had.

This rare dish is marked underneath with Wendt's trademarks and 'STERLING/ 155' and also by the NYC retailer 'HOWARD & Co.' It measures 9 inches across the handles by 5.25 inches wide by 8 inches high, weighs 19.65 troy ounces and is in very good/ excellent antique condition.