The Kalo Shop Hand Wrought Arts & Crafts Sterling Silver Covered Server, Chicago, Illinois, c. 1920-50

This is a very unusual and rare example of American arts & crafts silver. The round covered serving dish is beautifully hand-raised with a shimmering hammered surface. Applied to the sides of the bulbous body are two collars in which carved ebony handles are fitted and pinned into place.

A domed cover cover is beautifully ornamented with a central raised floriform pattern emanating from the carved ebony handle surmounted with a silver ball.

The Kalo Shop is known for its hammered surfaces and creative, forward looking arts & crafts designs. It was started by Clara Barck Welles who was 'known for her fair employment practices and for giving opportunities to women to become metalsmiths'.(1)

This rare server is marked underneath 'STERLING/ HAND WROUGHT/ AT/ THE KALO SHOP/ V13C'. It measures 11.25 inches across the handles by 5 inches high, weighs 31.45 troy ounces (including ebony), has never been engraved and is in excellent antique condition.

Endnote:

1. Sharon S. Darling, Chicago Metalsmiths, (Chicago: Chicago Historical Society, 1977), p. 48.