Antique American 1901 Solid Silver Van Buren/Dodge Plate by Black Starr & Frost

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Antique American 1901 Solid Silver Van Buren/Dodge Plate by Black Starr & Frost:
$22011.73

This is a fabulous antique and very rare, American sterling silver, christening dish, inscribed to the front \'Mary Rhodes Dodge\', with six Art Nouveau style mounts, each in the form of a female head withinscroll work and scalloped edge,inscribed to the back and dated 1901,stamped sterling, also stamped Black, Starr & Frost, with the number 230 and the American eagle.

The inscription to the rear reads .... \' From her Godmother Mary A Van Buren 1901\' adescendant ofMartin Van Buren, the 8th President of the United States of America.A lady that was obviouslyvery wealthy to shop at one of America\'s top silversmiths. This exquisitestunning silver dish contains linkswithregards .... two of the most prestigious family names in American history !!!!

Provenance ....

Bythe end of the summer of 1928, Mrs Guy Phelps Dodge and her daughters Mary and Rosemary were living at number 33 Perry Street, Manhattan. The girls were of sterling pedigrees. Their late father, who had been president of theAmerican Wood Fireproofing Company, decended from the prestigious Dodge family that includedpuritan pioneers,millionaires like William Earl Dodge, and their grandfather, the son of William Earl Dodge the imminent presbyterian minister Rev David Stuart Dodge. Their mother, the formerMary Aborn Rhodes, was descended from John Tilly and John Howland, both of whom arrived in America on the Mayflower.

The Mayflower was the Pilgrim ship that in 1620 made the historic voyage from England to the New World (America). The ship carried 102 passengers in two core groups – religious Separatists coming from Holland and a largely non-religious settler group from London. This voyage has become an iconic story in the earliest annals of American history with its tragic story of death and of survival in the harshest New World winter Environment. The culmination of the voyage in the signing of the Mayflower Compact is one of the greatest moments in the story of America, providing the basis of the nation\'s present form of democratic self-government and fundamental freedoms.

Another ancestor was Thomas McKean, a signer of the declaration of Independence, president of the Continental Congress in1781, chief justice of Pennsylvania in 1786 andGovernor of Pennsylvania in 1799 .... Later that year, in october 1928, Mary Phelps Dodge announcedin the New York Times the engagement of herdaughter Mary Rhodes Dodge.

Black, Starr and Frost ....

One of America’s oldest fine jewelers. Black, Starr and Frost was started in 1810 byErastus Barton and Frederick Marquandnear New York’s Maiden Lane. The firm added and lost partners numerous times over the years. It also frequently moved locations in accordance with the addresses of its prestigious clientele.In 1876, the firm changed its name from Black, Ball and Co. to Black, Starr and Frost, and moved to 251 Fifth Avenue. Its inventory became focused on jewelry and silver objects. For many decades, Black, Starr and Frost was considered one of the great American jewelers. In 1876, it was invited to exhibit at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia along with renowned firms like Tiffany & Co. Whiting and Gorham.In 1939, the firm was one of five American jewelers invited to exhibit at New York’s World’s Fair.Black, Starr and Frost has produced exquisite jewelry in almost every era. In 1929, it merged with Goram. In 2006, Alfredo Molina acquired the firm. Though its Flagship store in New York is now closed, the firm still has a location in Costa Mesa, California.

Dimensions as follows ....

Height: 0.75 inch or 2 cm

Diameter: 8 inches or 20 cm

Weight: 10 ozs or 286 grams

If you\'re asilvercollector then this is a must have, quality piece to add to any collection. It\'s so impressive/unusual and will be a real talking point amongst your friends. This fabulous plate is in superb original condition, with no dents, dinks, or repairs, trust me, whoever buys this, will not be disappointed.It also has all the commensurate age related patina that you\'d expect from a 112 year oldpiece ofAmerican socialite silver.

A very well defined, stunningsilver plate..... items this good, don\'t come up for sale that often. It\'s certainlythe bestchristening platewe\'ve ever seen.Just pure quality and the workmanship inthis fabulousitemis truly exquisite.

American silver items with real provenanceare appreciating in value and have become so very collectable. (Better than keeping your money in the bank). A stunningitem,that would make an ideal gift.What you\'re purchasing here, isa truly fabuloussilver plate ofreal museum quality. This is an extremely rare find indeed, I\'ve only got one, and once it\'s gone .... it\'s gone. You might never find another one of this quality, and if there\'s one thing I\'ve learned about antiques, when items are of quality and extremely rare he who hesitates usually loses out.

This beautifulitem will be sent out, recorded, special delivery with insurance.

Please note, all my international postal charges are only estimates and will be confirmed and altered up or down when I know the destination to where items are being sent. Please also note, I only charge actual costs of postage and packaging with insurance, no more.

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