Ashbil Griswold designs in collections, at auction, in exhibitions and historical information

Marks & historical information concerning the legacy.

ADC staff
artdesigncafé - design | Design Meriden | 27 March 2016 | Updated 21 July 2021

Above, photo of Ashbil Griswold pewter designs in Edmund P. Hogan’s The elegance of old silverplate and some personalities (1980), p. 152. For more information, see the entry listed below.

A. Ashbil Griswold designs in collections (by year)

Info/photo status:

= info and photo online
= info online, no photo
= completely offline

1800s

1800-50 - shaving box

Ashbil Griswold. (1800-50). Shaving box. Pewter. (Accession no. 1949.180. Viewed 25 May 2016. A00704.)

Photo - Historic New England organization, Boston.

1800-1900 - covered soap dish

Ashbil Griswold. (1800-1900). Covered soap dish. (Accession no. 1982.11.47. Viewed 28 August 2020. J00512).

Bowdoin College Museum of Art, Brunswick, Maine.

1802 - plate

Ashbil Griswold. (1802). Plate. (Accession no: 1997.54.58. Viewed 6 May 2020. J00305).

Photo - Grand Rapids Public Museum, Michigan.

1802-42 - two soap boxes

Ashbil Griswold. (1802-42). Two soap boxes. Pewter. (Accession nos. 00.4.100-01. Viewed 29 March 2016. B00054-55.)

Photos - The Henry Ford, Dearborn, MI. (Second soap box.)

1802-42 - soap dish

Ashbil Griswold. (1802-42). Soap dish. Pewter. (Object no. H 69619. Viewed 30 June 2018. A03022).

Photo - Ohio History Center, Columbus. (Search the collection.)

1807-15 - dish

Ashbil Griswold. (1807-15). Dish. Pewter. (Accession no. 1973.313. Viewed 14 November 2018. L00851; L00856-58).

Offline - New Haven Museum, CT.

1807-15 - dish

Ashbil Griswold. (1807-15). Dish. Pewter. (Viewed 14 November 2018. L00851; L00855).

Offline - Meriden Historical Society, Meriden, CT.
For reference, see: (12 April 1984). Insilco donates silver, pewter, memorabilia [to the Meriden Historical Society... 650-piece, one-of-a-kind collection of silver, pewter and memorabilia...]. Hartford Courant, p. D4. See worldcat.org for locations.

1807-15 - basin

Ashbil Griswold. (1807-15). Basin. Pewter. (Viewed 14 November 2018. L00851; L00855).

Offline - Meriden Historical Society, Meriden, CT.
For reference, see: (12 April 1984). Insilco donates silver, pewter, memorabilia [to the Meriden Historical Society... 650-piece, one-of-a-kind collection of silver, pewter and memorabilia...]. Hartford Courant, p. D4. See worldcat.org for locations.

1807-15 - two plates

Ashbil Griswold. (1807-15). Two plates. Pewter. (Viewed 14 November 2018. L00851; L00855).

Offline - Meriden Historical Society, Meriden, CT.
For reference, see: (12 April 1984). Insilco donates silver, pewter, memorabilia [to the Meriden Historical Society... 650-piece, one-of-a-kind collection of silver, pewter and memorabilia...]. Hartford Courant, p. D4. See worldcat.org for locations.

1807-15 - teapot

Ashbil Griswold. (1807-15). Teapot. Pewter. (Viewed 14 November 2018. L00851; L00855).

Offline - Meriden Historical Society, Meriden, CT.
For reference, see: (12 April 1984). Insilco donates silver, pewter, memorabilia [to the Meriden Historical Society... 650-piece, one-of-a-kind collection of silver, pewter and memorabilia...]. Hartford Courant, p. D4. See worldcat.org for locations.

1807-15 - sugar bowl

Ashbil Griswold. (1807-15). Sugar bowl. Pewter. (Viewed 14 November 2018. L00851; L00855).

Offline - Meriden Historical Society, Meriden, CT.
For reference, see: (12 April 1984). Insilco donates silver, pewter, memorabilia [to the Meriden Historical Society... 650-piece, one-of-a-kind collection of silver, pewter and memorabilia...]. Hartford Courant, p. D4. See worldcat.org for locations.

1807-16 - dish

Ashbil Griswold. (1807-16). Dish. Pewter. (Accession no. 1931.262. Viewed 28 March 2016. A00181.)

Photo - Yale University Gallery of Art, New Haven, CT.

1807-30 - teapot

Ashbil Griswold. (1807-30). Teapot. Metal. (Accession no. 1930.717. Viewed 27 March 2016. A00178.)

Photo - Yale University Gallery of Art, New Haven, CT.

1807-34 - dish

Ashbil Griswold. (1807-34). Dish. Pewter. (Accession no. 43.162.27. Viewed 28 March 2016. A00185.)

Photo - Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

c. 1807-35 - beaker

Ashbil Griswold. (c. 1807-35). Beaker. Pewter. (Accession no. 64.1714. Viewed 5 May 2017. A02361.)

Photo - Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

c. 1807-35 - dish

Ashbil Griswold. (c. 1807-35). Dish. Pewter. (Accession no. 64.1686. Viewed 6 May 2017. A02371.)

Photo - Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

c. 1807-35 - beaker

Ashbil Griswold. (c. 1807-35). Beaker. Pewter. (Accession no. 64.1715. Viewed 5 May 2017. A02363.)

Photo - Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

1807-35 - soap box

Ashbil Griswold. (1807-35). Soap box. Pewter. (Accession no. 41.34.54. Viewed 28 March 2016. A00186.)

Photo - Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

1807-35 - soap box

Ashbil Griswold. (1807-35). Soap box. Pewter. (Accession no. 62.89.3. Viewed 28 March 2016. A00184.)

Photo - Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

1807-35 - soap dish

Ashbil Griswold. (c. 1807-35). Soap dish. Pewter. (Accession no. 1986.0027. Viewed 10 October 2020. J00843).

Photos - National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.

1807-35 - box (shaving box)

Ashbil Griswold. (1807-35). Box (Shaving box). Pewter, Britannia metal. (Accession no. 1955.0003.002. Viewed 29 March 2017. A01823.)

Photo - Winterthur Museum, Delaware.

1807-35 - beaker

Ashbil Griswold. (1807-35). Beaker. Pewter, Britannia metal. (Accession no. 1964.1160. Viewed 28 March 2017. A01826.)

Photo - Winterthur Museum, Delaware.

1807-35 - beaker

Ashbil Griswold. (1807-35). Beaker. Pewter. (Accession no. 1947-47-2. Viewed 28 March 2016. A00183.)

Photo - Philadelphia Museum of Art.

1807-35 - beaker

Ashbil Griswold. (1807-35). Beaker. Pewter. (Accession no. 41.34.26. Viewed 28 March 2016. A00187.)

Photo - Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

c. 1807-35 - shaving box

Ashbil Griswold. (c. 1807-35). Shaving box. Pewter. (Object ID no. 1957.065.01.33. Viewed 17 July 2018. G02913-14).

Photo - New Hampshire Historical Society, Concord.

1807-42 - dish

Ashbil Griswold. (1807-42). Dish. (Accession no. 68-272. Viewed 31 August 2020. J00526).

Photo - Musées de la civilisation, Quebec City, Quebec - Artefacts Canada micro-site, Government of Canada. (Search the micro-site, advanced search, select "Accession number".)

1808-35 - teapot

Ashbil Griswold. (1808-35). Teapot. Metal. (Accession no. H.19XX.131.3. Viewed 10 June 2017. A02652.)

North Carolina Museum of History, Raleigh, NC. (Search the collection.)

1810s

1813-34 - beaker

Ashbil Griswold. (1813-34). Beaker. Pewter. (Accession no. 1930.730. Viewed 27 March 2016. A00179.)

Photo - Yale University Gallery of Art, New Haven, CT.

1818-34 - lather box

Ashbil Griswold. (1818-34). Lather box. Pewter. (Accession no. 1931.294. Viewed 28 March 2016. A00180.)

Photo - Yale University Gallery of Art, New Haven, CT.

Click the following link to see designs and documentation for other historical silver makers from the Meriden area, listed on the historical Meriden design overview page. Scroll down to section B: "ISC, predecessors & divisions" and C: "Other featured companies".

1820s

1820-30 - plate

Ashbil Griswold. (1820-30). Plate. Pewter. (Accession no. 45.10.56. Viewed 28 March 2016. A00188.)

Photo - Brooklyn Museum, New York.

c. 1820-35 - teapot

Ashbil Griswold. (c. 1820-35). Teapot. Pewter. (Accession no. 300859. Viewed 10 October 2020. J00842).

Photos - National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.

c. 1820-40 - coffeepot

Ashbil Griswold. (c. 1820-40). Coffeepot. (Accession no. 71679. Viewed 24 September 2020. J00761).

Photos - National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.

n. d.

n. d. - dish

Ashbil Griswold. (undated). Dish. Pewter. (Accession no. 64.2318. Viewed 6 May 2017. A02372.)

Photo - Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

n. d. - plate

Ashbil Griswold. (undated). Plate. Pewter. (Accession no. 64.2365. Viewed 6 May 2017. A02377.)

Photo - Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

n. d. - shaving box

Ashbil Griswold. (undated). Shaving box. Pewter. (Accession no. 64.1870. Viewed 6 May 2017. A02378.)

Photo - Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

early 19th c. - beaker

Ashbil Griswold. (early 19th century). Beaker. Pewter. (Cat. no. 1996.0165. Viewed 18 July 2018. G02950-51).

Photo - Little Compton Historical Society, Little Compton, Rhode Island.

n. d. - basin

Ashbil Griswold. (undated). Basin. Pewter. (Accession no. 15.884. Viewed 31 July 2019. C01200; H01101).

Photo - Rhode Island School of Design Museum, Providence, RI.

n. d. - deep dish

Ashbil Griswold. (undated). Deep dish. Pewter. (Accession no. 45.10.57. Viewed 28 March 2016. A00189.)

Brooklyn Museum, New York.

n. d. - teapot

Ashbil Griswold. (undated). Teapot. Pewter. (Accession no. 64.1775. Viewed 6 May 2017. A02379.)

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

C. Ashbil Griswold designs at auction

1800s

c. 1807-35 - large dish

Ashbil Griswold. (c. 1807-35). Large dish. (Viewed 4 February 2021. L01691).

Photo - auction catalogue (pdf p. 13, no. 426) - Sotheby Parke Bernet (New York) Auction of Americana (27 NOV - 1 DEC 1979). Nederlandse TinVereniging (NTV) (Dutch society of pewter collectors) website.

c. 1807-35 - soap box

Ashbil Griswold. (c. 1807-35). Soap box. (Viewed 4 February 2021. L01691).

Photo - auction catalogue (pdf p. 11, no. 419) - Sotheby Parke Bernet (New York) Auction of Americana (27 NOV - 1 DEC 1979). Nederlandse TinVereniging (NTV) (Dutch society of pewter collectors) website.

c. 1807-35 - sugar bowl

Ashbil Griswold. (c. 1807-35). Sugar bowl. (Viewed 4 February 2021. L01691).

Photo - auction catalogue (pdf p. 27, no. 395) - Sotheby Parke Bernet (New York) Auction of Americana (27 NOV - 1 DEC 1979). Nederlandse TinVereniging (NTV) (Dutch society of pewter collectors) website.

1830s

c. 1830 - teapot

Ashbil Griswold. (c. 1830). Teapot. (Viewed 4 February 2021. L01691).

Auction catalogue (pdf p. 7, no. 388) - Sotheby Parke Bernet (New York) Auction of Americana (27 NOV - 1 DEC 1979). Nederlandse TinVereniging (NTV) (Dutch society of pewter collectors) website.

19th c.

19th c. - deep dish

Ashbil Griswold. (19th century). Deep dish. Pewter. (Viewed 2 July 2018. G02111).

Photo - Sotheby’s New York - Important Americana (27 SEP 2012).

19th c. - tumbler

Ashbil Griswold. (19th century). Tumbler. Pewter. (Viewed 2 July 2018. G02110).

Christie’s New York - The collection of Kay and Richard Barrett (17 JUN 1997).

C. Ashbil Griswold designs in exhibitions

1960s

1969 - New Haven exhibition

c. April - 14 June 1969. An exhibition of Connecticut pewter at New Haven Colony Historical Society (now the New Haven Museum), New Haven, CT.

> Exhibited designs by Ashbil Griswold. (1807-15). Dish. (New Haven Museum collection); Soap dish, beakers. (Private lenders); Dish, basin, two plates, teapot, sugar bowl (International Silver Co. collection).

For documentation, see historical section below.

1970s

1975 - New York and Cranbrook exhibitions

3 venues: 1975. Forms in metal: 275 years of metalsmithing in America at the Finch College Museum of Art, New York and the Museum of Contemporary Crafts, New York (17 January - 2 March 1975); second viewing at Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, MI (16 March - 20 April 1975). (Updated 6 June 2017. AAA00361.)

Online - exhibition catalogue - American Craft Council, Minneapolis, MN. (See p. 29.)

See our Design Meriden compilation listing over 1000 exhibitions since 1851, featuring historical design associated with the Meriden area.

D. Ashbil Griswold - historical information

Material status:

= online
= link to more info
= completely offline

1800s

Various newspapers, magazines and other sources

(c. 1800s-). Various newspapers, magazines and other sources - search engines. (Updated 19 July 2020. L01699).

Online - americansilversmiths.org website - Ashbil Griswold marks.
Online - archive.org;
Online - Chronicling America at Library of Congress;
Online - fultonhistory.com (over 40 million historical newspaper pages);
Online - Google Books;
Online - Google News;
Online - HathiTrust Digital Library.

1807-52 - daybooks

Ashbil Griswold. (1807-52). Daybooks [for pewter and britannia]. (Viewed 17 June 2020. D01491).

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, Winterthur, Delaware.

1850s

1856 - map

(1856). Map of New Haven County, Connecticut [with marking for Griswold (North Meriden)]. H & C. T. Smith: Philadelphia. (Viewed 1 October 2020. E01632).

Online - Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

1930s

1936 - spotlighted article mention

Snow, William G. (17 April 1936). Meriden’s silverware industry history (with mention of [Ashbil] Griswold). The Meriden Daily Journal [Fiftieth Anniversary issue (1886-1936)], unknown page number. (Viewed 25 November 2020. D01699).

Online - Google News.

1940s

1947 - book mentions

May, Earl Chapin. (1947). On "Ashbil Griswold", (pp. 54-68; 220, 324-25, 338; also plate II, portrait of Ashbil Griswold, and plate VII with photo of pewter by Griswold). In A century of silver 1847-1947. New York: Robert M. McBride Company. (Updated 17 April 2017. DM.)

Yale University Library, call no. Jke33 C8 947M;
See worldcat.org for other locations.

1950s

1956 - book mentions

Wendover, Sanford H. (1956). On Ashbil Griswold, (pp. 82; 85-6, 209, 212). In 150 years of Meriden. Meriden: Meriden Sesquicentennial Committee. (Published in connection with the observance of the city’s sesquicentennial, June 17-23, 1956). (Updated 2 October 2020. A02604-06; E01635-36.)

Online - University of Connecticut Libraries, Storrs.

"... [In 1844, Charles] Parker is reported to have been the first local manufacturer to plate spoons and forks. Some hollowware was also made... Ashbil Griswold and others were making pewter kitchen utensils in Meriden as early as 1808... By 1850, Ashbil Griswold, the pioneer, was producing britannia ware in North Meriden or Fraryville. James A. Frary and Couch & Benham made similar wares nearby. In East Meriden, or Bangall, Isaac C. Lewis, George Curtis, and Darius Bingham, Jr. turned out britannia ware in addition to pewter. The Curtises, Edwin E. and Lemuel J., were making britannia on Curtis Street. Enos Curtis had a britannia factory at the north end on Britannia Street. The pewter shop of William W. Lyman was also on Britannia Street. S. L. Cone and L. G. Baldwin were also engaged in Britannia manufacture... Some factories employed 40 or more hands..." (Excerpt from above, p. 84 & 86.)

1960s

1969 - exhibition catalogue - Ashbil Griswold in New Haven exhibition

(1969). An exhibition of Connecticut pewter catalogue [c. April - 14 June 1969], 72 pp. [New Haven, CT: New Haven Colony Historical Society (now New Haven Museum); see exhibited works listed above in exhibitions section]. (Viewed 14 November 2018. D00560; L00851-54).

Yale University library, call. no. Meriden Gravure 976.
Also, see exhibition review (with no mention of Griswold): Schwartz, Marvin D. (24 May 1969). Antiques: Craftsmanship in Connecticut pewter. New York Times, p. 32. See worldcat.org for locations.

1970s

1974 - article mention

Hogan, E. P. (April 1974). The inventive W. W. Lyman of Meriden, Conn. [with mention of Ashbil Griswold]. Spinning Wheel, pp. 14-7. (Viewed 14 July 2021. R01505).

Online - archive.org. (Email-based registration required.)

1974 - article

Hogan, E. P. (September 1974). Ashbil Griswold— pewterer [with portrait, marks and photos showing designs by Griswold]. Spinning Wheel, pp. 18-22. (Viewed 21 July 2021. R01570).

Online - archive.org. (Email-based registration required.)

1975 - exhibition catalogue - Ashbil Griswold in New York and Cranbrook exhibitions

(1975). Forms in metal: 275 years of metalsmithing in America catalogue. (Exhibitions at the Finch College Museum of Art, New York and the Museum of Contemporary Crafts, New York; second viewing at Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, MI.) (Viewed 17 October 2016. AAA00361.)

Online - American Craft Council, Minneapolis, MN. (See p. 29.)

1977 - book mentions

Hogan, Edmund P. (1977). On "Ashbil Griswold", [pp. 5 (painted portrait of Griswold, 1846; 6 (photo of teapot design, undated); 9, 12; 15)]. In An American heritage: A book about the International Silver Company. Taylor Publishing Company: Dallas, TX. (Updated 17 April 2017. DM.)

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York call no. HD9536.Uf4 I554 1977;
See worldcat.org for other locations.

1979 - article (reprint)

Hogan, E. P. (November 1979). Ashbil Griswold— pewterer [with portrait, marks and photos showing designs by Griswold; noted as a reprint of the article previously published in September 1974 in the magazine]. Spinning Wheel, pp. 16-20. (Viewed 21 July 2021. R01569).

Online - archive.org. (Email-based registration required.)

1980s

1980 - book section

Hogan, Edmund P. (1980). On "Ashbil Griswold", (pp. 147-54). In The elegance of old silver plate and some personalities. Schiffer Publishing Limited: Exton, PA. (Updated 17 April 2017. DM.)

University of Connecticut Library call no. NK7240.5 .H63 1980;
See worldcat.org for other locations.

1980 - book mention

Hogan, Edmund P. (1980). On "W. W. Lyman" (apprentice to Ashbil Griswold, husband of Ashbil Griswold’s adopted daughter; partner of Curtis and Lyman; director of Meriden Britannia; president of Meriden Cutlery Company; president of Meriden Flint Glass Company) (reproduced illustrations of W. W. Lyman and his wife; Meriden Britannia building and "board"; Lyman fruit jars; patent), (pp. 154-59). In The elegance of old silver plate and some personalities. Schiffer Publishing Limited: Exton, PA. (Updated 17 April 2017. DM.)

University of Connecticut Library call no. NK7240.5 .H63 1980;
See worldcat.org for other locations.

1984 - news mention

(12 April 1984). Insilco donates silver, pewter, memorabilia [to the Meriden Historical Society... 650-piece, one-of-a-kind collection of silver, pewter and memorabilia... (with mention of Ashbil Griswold)]. Hartford Courant, p. D4. (Viewed 14 November 2018. L00855).

See worldcat.org for locations.

2000s

2007 - article mention

Turano, Andrew F. and Smith, Robert G. (Summer 2007). Isaac Chauncy Lewis, britannia worker [with mention of Ashbil Griswold]. The Bulletin (Pewter Collector’s Club of America), vol. 13, no. 7, pp. 3-18. (Viewed 25 February 2021. R01341).

Online - Nederlandse TinVereniging (NTV) (Dutch society of pewter collectors) website.

n. d.

n. d. - photographs and information sheets regarding Ashbil Griswold pewter

(undated). Photographs and information sheets regarding Ashbil Griswold pewter. (Viewed 23 June 2020. L01466).

Winterthur Museum library, Winterthur, Delaware.

Click the following link to see designs and documentation for other historical companies from the Meriden area, and those that were connected to the International Silver Company; go to the historical Meriden design overview page and scroll down to section D: "ISC, predecessors & divisions", E: "Other featured companies" and G: "Featured early pewter / britannia / silver makers".