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Napkin ring quandary

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Author	Topic: Napkin ring quandary
outwest Posts: 390 Registered: Nov 2005	posted 02-28-2006 05:25 PM At the risk of sounding like a complete dope I finally decided to take the risk. I have a number of random old napkin rings. Many are clearly from the late 1800's, some plain, some fancy. This one has pretty much stumped me. I know they all came down through the family. I have identified most of the monograms. This one I haven't been able to identify, except for a feeling I have having to do with Charity Bemis Greenwood. Here is my quandery: First of all, I don't think people used napkin rings at the time Charity was around (early 1800's). Second of all, the initials seem to have copper color on the sides of them. I believed this was solid silver. The gouged out areas don't show any copper color and there is no rubbed off areas anywhere else, but it is possible this is plated, I guess. Third of all, I haven't been able to identify the maker. Is the maker the 'O' or the other initials (retailer?) I believe the initials are upside down in relation to the monogram so I posted a closer up one of them the other way around. Rainwater lists a WMF German company that sold a lot of plated wares in the US at the very end of the the 19th century (that's when they were WMF), but there's an extra M at the end. Their stamp looks different, but the coincidence is pretty high and perhaps this IS plated and the 'O' is the quality of plate? Maybe the ring was plated after the gouges but before the initials. But, isn't this an older style of monogram? If it is 1901 or so I have NO idea who's this was (I was thinking maybe Charity Greenwood with a middle initial 'Y' rather then her maiden name)and it needs to be moved to the silverplate forum! Thoughts? IP: Logged
outwest Posts: 390 Registered: Nov 2005	posted 02-28-2006 07:07 PM PS When I tap it on the side it rings like silver does. I also decided to get aggressive and really clean it with the polish. It is very sparkley now. Again, no signs of plate wear, but I suppose a napkin ring wouldn't have a lot of use wear and there is the question of the gold toned sides of the letters. hmmm IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 02-28-2006 11:11 PM Outwest, Could the coppery color be gold wash or plating that wore off the rest of the ring, but stayed around in the engraving because it didn't get rubbed there? I have a creamer with a matte surface and a complicated monogram that seems to have traces of gold wash in it. I was examining it the other day and speculating that the whole thing might once have been gold washed, with only the bits inside the monogram remaining. I don't know how likely that is, though, since the interior is gold washed. If it wore off the outside, shouldn't it have worn off the inside? And is gold wash applied before or after engraving, anyway? Anybody know? IP: Logged
tmockait Posts: 963 Registered: Jul 2004	posted 02-28-2006 11:28 PM I don't think it is the German Company: W�rttembergische Metallwarenfabrik Their mark usually included an ostrich and other marks to indicate the amount of silver in the silverplate. Look at this thread: German silverplate marks - WMF Tom IP: Logged
Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 Registered: Apr 2000	posted 03-01-2006 09:20 AM Continental silver of 800, 835, and similar less-than-sterling finenesses, in my experience, sometimes, if not frequently, oxidizes to a brassy yellow color. This must relate to the non-silver alloys used with the silver. Although these items look like worn silverplate when in this state, the brassy oxidation can be removed with ordinary silver polish. I think I have had five or six pieces where this was the case. IP: Logged
swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 Registered: May 2003	posted 03-01-2006 01:55 PM I once bought a Hanoverian spoon (stamped twice with a makers mark only) that was a uniform grayish green color sold for a couple of bucks as nickel silver, but it polished up nicely and was obviously either of a low grade silver or an impure alloy. As Paul implies, the color of uncleaned silver can be misleading; this is especially true of older Continental silver of lower grades, and also that from areas where no assaying was required or available. IP: Logged
salmoned Posts: 336 Registered: Jan 2005	posted 03-01-2006 02:39 PM Specific gravity? [I'm starting to repeat like a broken record, but it's so easy to perform this simple test on small, cavity-free objects like this.] IP: Logged
outwest Posts: 390 Registered: Nov 2005	posted 03-01-2006 04:09 PM I do have a good food scale that weighs in grams so I tried it. It weighed exactly the same in and out of water. Then I took a known sterling napkin ring and did the exact same thing. It also weighed exactly the same in and out of the water. I suppose my scale isn't sensitive enough or the items are so small that the differences are less then a gram. IP: Logged
Dale Posts: 2132 Registered: Nov 2002	posted 03-01-2006 06:59 PM Paul make good point. I have seen a few items with this tendency also. IP: Logged
salmoned Posts: 336 Registered: Jan 2005	posted 03-02-2006 02:10 PM Okay, I suppose your food scale measures in 1 gram increments (+- 1 gram, at best). If a 'silver' item weighs 20 grams in air, it should weigh about 18 suspended in water. So, I'm not surprised by your results. For such small objects, at least 0.1 gram sensitivity is necessary (I usually use a scale with 0.01 gram sensitivity). Scientific instruments (and methods) ARE preferred when conducting scientific examinations. [This message has been edited by salmoned (edited 03-02-2006).] IP: Logged
Dale Posts: 2132 Registered: Nov 2002	posted 03-02-2006 06:56 PM I think that napkin rings date back to the Middle Ages, if not the Roman Empire. They are an old form of silver. WMF may be a retailer. It does not look like a standard WMF mark, but these do vary, especially on smaller items. IP: Logged
vathek Posts: 966 Registered: Jun 99	posted 03-03-2006 07:48 AM my guess is that it is coin silver, only partially marked as part of a set. IP: Logged
adelapt Posts: 418 Registered: May 2003	posted 03-05-2006 01:17 AM Dale - a question for the oracle. I've never heard of napkin rings before about 1830 or so. Tell me more about the earlier manifestations please? IP: Logged
Silver Lyon Posts: 363 Registered: Oct 2004	posted 03-05-2006 12:24 PM Methinks.. Silver plated nickel silver c.1880 WMF as suggested - although made in Germany they exported throughout the world. Initials read CYG or a combination thereof. Napkin rings are a decidedly middle-class introduction. The earliest genuine British one I have seen was 1818, but they do not become common in Europe until after 1850. It was NOT the thing to do to show that you needed to use napkins more than once!!! So they were a social no no for the more affluent classes. By 1880 a standard birth or marriage gift. I have a friend with over 500 different from 32 different countries!! Hope this helps! IP: Logged
Dale Posts: 2132 Registered: Nov 2002	posted 03-07-2006 12:20 AM Hi Adelpat, Thanks for asking. This sent me googoling. I did find one history of the napkin ring, which unhelpfully suggests that more research is needed. It is from 1963, and draws on the Historical Library of the International Silver Company. AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH. This library seems to have gone missing, unless it is tucked away in the Meriden CT library. The first devices known for presenting napkins were part of Nefs, which began appearing about 750 years ago. The history of the napkin ring is rather obscure after that, with only one 17th century reference. They then appear in full flower and force, with apparently no development or history in the 1830's. Which I do not believe for a minute. Here is the page link and some choice quotes. quote: The Napkin Ring It appears that the first device employed to hold the table napkin from one meal to another was a "nef" -a silver model of a sailing ship, "silver galloons all sails set and pennons flying," made with "scrupulous accuracy" which appeared about the middle of the 12th century.' 'On the other hand, Hayward in her work, The Connoisseur's Handbook of Antique Collecting, a dictionary, makes no mention of a navette, although she does define a nef as: "a vessel shaped like a ship and used in the later Middle Ages for the lord's napkin, knife and spoon.' quote: As for the appearance of napkin rings, the Art Division of the New York Public Library writes: "According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first known appearance of the term `napkin ring' in literature was on page 275 in a book entitled Workwoman's Guide, published in London in 1838. This handbook of needlework, knitting, etc. contained directions for knitting `checked napkin rings' to be stiffened with wire or buckram. Although the appearance of napkin rings in literature does not prove the date of their origin, it might be a clue as to the period in which they came into general use." Mr. E. A. Lane, Keeper of the Department of Ceramics, Victoria and Albert Museum, writes: "The earliest reference to napkin-rings given in the New English Dictionary is 1839, and our Metalwork Department say that they can find no record of metal rings having been made before that date. It seems likely therefore that napkin rings were introduced in this country [England] in about the 1830s." The DuPont Winterthur Museum mentions: "A glance at the Oxford English Dictionary reveals no reference to rings before 1839, and no reference to materials other than ivory (1860)." This museum also states: "The Encyclopedia of Domestic Economy (New York, 1845) which lists `the usual articles in silver required to furnish the table' . . . does not mention napkin rings. No mention of them is made in the listing of duties of various members of the household staff." Mrs. Kathryn Buhler, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, finds that in colonial times in New England: "In the inventory of Thomas Thacher (Suffolk Probate Court, Boston) in 1678, his plate included `& a napkin hooke.' In no other inventories have I chanced upon a similar silver piece." Anyway, back to oraculing. Does anyone know of more recent napkin ring research? [This message has been edited by Dale (edited 03-07-2006).] IP: Logged
Dale Posts: 2132 Registered: Nov 2002	posted 03-07-2006 01:03 AM The first thing I notice is that I still do not comprehend how to do quotes. Must work on this. The second thing I notice is that back in the 1200's, there was a device to hold napkins on a table. It was the 'nef' and later the 'navette' was available. So, we can see that the for most of the last millenium, there have been items that performed the function of the napkin ring. The third thing I notice is that over 40 years ago silver scholars were noticing that this area needed more work. The works being cited here were all defined to a narrow stretch of West Europe and North America. The phrase 'was introduced' might indicate that napkin rings were brought from somewhere else and adapted. The passing reference to 'ivory' might suggest that India or China was the origin of the napkin ring. The fourth thing I notice is that back then one could call or write the IS Historical Library and get an answer. IP: Logged
ahwt Posts: 2334 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 03-07-2006 09:47 AM Another interesting research project would be to study when people started using napkins that lasted more than one meal. From some web sites it appears that early on (before the 15th century) many diners simply used the table cloth. There was no need for a napkin ring if one did not use napkins. I suspect that it was not until the wide spread use of napkins that someone thought of the idea of keeping the same napkin for the next meal. One web site would suggest that napkins started in those societies that were slow to use forks. Perhaps the thought was that as their fingers got very dirty a napkin was better that using the table cloth. The use of a napkin holder would also suggest to me that the diners enjoyed an orderly table setting. It is interesting to try to connect with the past and find out what was important to past cultures. IP: Logged
FWG Posts: 845 Registered: Aug 2005	posted 03-07-2006 10:24 AM Here's another example, with a variant of the same mark. The knurling looks identical; the engraving is a different style, and the surface has that nice stippled finish that has been discussed elsewhere. On this example, the conjoined MF from the previous looks more like M-; if you closely compare the two marks you'll see that they appear to have been struck by different punches. One should never lightly question Silver Lyon, but this mark is not one I've ever seen associated with WMF. Maybe I'm just more familiar with their later Nouveau and Deco work? But there's no need for a final M to abbreviate Würtembergische Metallwarenfabrik. ?? IP: Logged
outwest Posts: 390 Registered: Nov 2005	posted 03-08-2006 12:00 AM HEY! That looks like the same mark almost exactly and the edging is the same, too. By the way, I rubbed on the monogram on mine pretty heavily (I know, that's bad) and the gold tone seemed to mostly disappear? I wonder if I just wiped off the remnants of a gold wash? What is yours made of? It looks plated in the picture, but maybe it's just reflection? Maybe mine is plated, but I wiped off some gold wahs on the outside? Sigh. The mystery of it all. But, that's the fun of it. Maybe mine is plated by WMF company and the M stands for Manufacturer or some such. I can almost see two lines of an F in your picture, too. Do you know how old yours is? [This message has been edited by outwest (edited 03-08-2006).] IP: Logged
outwest Posts: 390 Registered: Nov 2005	posted 03-12-2006 11:55 AM Did anyone else notice the joined MF on the colonial server in the new members forum for Marshall Fields? IP: Logged
Tad Hale Posts: 120 Registered: Jul 2005	posted 03-12-2006 11:13 PM Maybe the extra M stands for Manufacturers. IP: Logged
outwest Posts: 390 Registered: Nov 2005	posted 03-13-2006 11:15 AM We may never know. I have one whole side of the family from Chicago, Illinois so Marshall Field could be a connection. Let's pretend: W: Wendell Manufacturing (made silver for Marshall Fields) MF: Marshall Fields M: Manufacturers '0':the guy who wrought it? I give up. It isn't that important. IP: Logged
tmockait Posts: 963 Registered: Jul 2004	posted 03-13-2006 03:14 PM Outwest, Just to confuse things further, I believe the letter "O" was aslo used to indicate the thickness of silver coating. Tom IP: Logged
Ulysses Dietz Moderator Posts: 1265 Registered: May 99	posted 03-14-2006 08:09 AM From a font-style point of view, the monogram is from about 1860 at the earliest. Napkin rings would have been a boon to folks for whom washing linens was either a chore or an expense. One must remember the awesome difficulty of washing things in the pre-machine age--the laundress was at the very bottom of the servant hierarchy. So a rich family would have just washed their napkins every day...and a middle-class family would have tried to keep their napkins tidy for a week until the laundress came. All the discussion about old finger-using habits is fascinating, and probably right on target. By the 1850s genteel middle-class victorians would have been adept at using flatware to keep their hands away from the food (which was the point in the first place) and thus their napkins were only used to wipe their largely clean mouths. Thus napkins didn't get dirty as fast as they would have in messier eating eras. So the 1830s, culturally speaking, seems just the right time for napkins rings to appear. I don't think I've ever seen an American napkin ring from before the Civil War. IP: Logged

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