Reed & Barton ‘The Diamond’ Pattern Sterling Silver Coffee and Tea Service, c. 1960s

One of the most attractive designs in modern silver is Reed & Barton’s ‘The Diamond.’  The elegant forms, polished reflective bodies, pointed finials, and multifaceted handles create objects of beauty.  Comprising a coffee pot, teapot, cream jug, covered sugar bowl, and (quite rare) waste bowl, this service retains the rare original rattan handle insulators.

‘The Diamond tea and coffee service was created by John Prip to coordinate with The Diamond flatware pattern (1958)...  Introduced as a three-piece coffee set in the Oct 1, 1958 ....’ (1)  The handle is wrapped with its original rattan, which acts as an insulator.  ‘Originally, natural rattan or woven black plastic was used...  Later the rattan was replaced with colored plastic.’ (2)  This wonderful service consists of a coffee pot, teapot, creamer, covered sugar bowl, and waste bowl.

This lovely sterling silver coffee service is marked underneath ‘REED & BARTON/ STERLING/ 440/ The Diamond’.  The coffee pot is also stamped 49 and measures 11.5 inches tall.  The service weighs a total of 69.70 troy ounces and is in very good/ excellent condition.

Endnotes:

1. Jewel Stern, Modernism in American Silver, 20th Century Design, p. 367.
2. Jewel Stern, Modernism in American Silver, 20th Century Design, pp. 247-248.