John Wendt 'Ribbon' Pattern Antique Sterling Silver Olive Serving Set, NYC, c. 1875

Olive sets are quite rare to find together after all these years. 'Ribbon' is an unusual design of intricate decoration portraying ribbon going through a couple of clasps. The larger clasps are engraved with an 'S' initial. The bowl of the spoon has a gilt, matte finish and is pierced and hand engraved with foliate accents. The fork has a gilt matte finish and hand engraved decoration

John Rudolph Wendt, a German immigrant, started working as a silversmith in Boston in the 1840's, moved to New York in 1860 and became the principal silversmith to Ball, Black & Co., the finest jewelers in New York City before Tiffany & Co. took that mantle in the 1870s. When this pattern was patented in 1875, he was in partnership with Charles Witteck who was assigned this design patent.

Provenance: From the collection of Dale E. Bennett

Literature: "A History of American Pickle Servers" in Silver Magazine, January/ February 2007, illustrated p. 39.

The backs of the fork and spoon are stamped '925/ PATENT' and 'STERLING/ PATENT' respectively. Wendt silver is usually unmarked and identified by his unique patterns. They measure 7.75 and 8 inches long respectively, weigh a combined 1.45 troy ounces and are in excellent antique condition.