Ulysses S. Grant tea and coffee service

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Ulysses S. Grant tea and coffee service

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Author	Topic: Ulysses S. Grant tea and coffee service
Ulysses Dietz Moderator Posts: 1265 Registered: May 99	posted 07-04-2012 12:18 PM [13-1094] Hey all. I have been absent but not totally inattentive. Hard times in museums right now. Survival mode. Especially in NJ. HOWEVER: As a fourth of July post, here is a tea and coffee service, inscribed and dated as a presentation to Gen. and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant in 1882. Retail marks of Harris & Shafer (and searching them leads me right back here!). But I suspect this set is actually Stieff out of Baltimore (Baltimore Sterling Silver Manufacturing Company). MORE TO COME! IP: Logged
Ulysses Dietz Moderator Posts: 1265 Registered: May 99	posted 07-04-2012 12:24 PM Here's more of the set. First, the inscription that appears on every piece: The inscription and the lack of any particular event that year (other than U. S. G's 60th birthday), leads me to suspect that this was a semi-official "thank you" gift from Chester A. Arthur. U. S. Grant, settled in NYC, influenced Arthur to choose Frederick Frelinghuysen (of Newark!) over Roscoe Conkling, an old crony of Grant's. IP: Logged
Ulysses Dietz Moderator Posts: 1265 Registered: May 99	posted 07-04-2012 12:27 PM Now I have to correct myself. The marks on these pieces (but for the kettle) include the retail mark of Harris & Shafer: And the word STERLING incuse. But looking online, this could just as well have been Kirk in 1882 as the other firm. Kirk in fact seems a little closer. But it surprised me to see no maker's mark if Kirk was the maker. The marks are on the waste bowl--but they are the same on every piece BUT the kettle, where the inscription is on the handle (shown) and the retail mark is missing. Only STERLING is on the kettle. IP: Logged
Ulysses Dietz Moderator Posts: 1265 Registered: May 99	posted 07-04-2012 12:29 PM The rest of the set. I grew up with these. I remember my mother spooning instant SANKA into the coffee pot before taking after-dinner coffee to the living room. Very Mad Men, eh? Coffee pot Teapot Creamer Sugar and lid IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 07-04-2012 05:10 PM Sanka in the general's coffeepot! What an image. Sorry to hear about the hard times, but very glad to see the treasures you've posted. IP: Logged
ellabee Posts: 306 Registered: Dec 2007	posted 07-15-2012 12:51 PM Thanks so much, Ulysses! The Sanka note makes the whole set more approachable. But also reminds me of the taste of Sanka... Bleeah! We once had a Stieff or Kirk water pitcher from the very same year (wedding gift to my great-grandmother). The thought that it may have sat in the factory near Gen.& Mrs. Grant's is a mini "brush with greatness". It was stolen by a house-sitter, and to be honest, I can't say I miss it. I crave a nice water pitcher, but a simpler and smoother one. IP: Logged

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