Holmes & Edwards Silver Company designs in collections, at auction, and in exhibitions
artdesigncafé - design | Design Meriden | 31 May 2016 | Updated 19 December 2021
LINK: Holmes & Edwards Silver Company design catalogues and historical information
Above, three ads, from left to right, in: Vogue (1 January 1923), Harper’s Bazaar (February 1925), and Vogue (January 1926). See the entries on the parallel Holmes & Edwards design catalogues and historical information for more information.
The Holmes & Edwards Silver Company was founded in 1882. The company became part of the International Silver Company in 1898.
Info/photo status: |
= info and photo online = info online, no photo = completely offline |
A. Holmes & Edwards Silver Company designs in collections (by year) [1]
1880s |
c. 1882-91 - jam potHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (c. 1882-91). Jam pot. Rich cut glass, silver sterling lid. (Cat. no. 2017.111.92a-c. Viewed 6 July 2018. G02329-30). 1882-96 - souvenir spoonHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (1882-96). Souvenir spoon. (Accession no. 1968.209.3. Viewed 24 July 2016. A01100.) 1882-98 - butter knifeHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (1882-98). Butter knife ("scalloped edge, no decoration"). (Identifier: V 6398.4. Viewed 14 May 2020. J00347). 1882-98 - teaspoonHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (1882-98). Teaspoon ("very plain"). (Identifier: V 6398.1a-f. Viewed 14 May 2020. J00348). 1882-98 - spoonHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (1882-98). Spoon ("shell shaped bowl, no design on handle"). (Identifier: V 6398.5. Viewed 14 May 2020. J00349). 1882-98 - iced tea spoonHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (1882-98). Iced tea spoon. (Identifier: V 6379. Viewed 14 May 2020. J00350). 1882-98 - dinner forkHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (1882-98). Dinner fork. (Identifier: V 6398.3a-f. Viewed 14 May 2020. J00351). 1885 - serving forkHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (1885). Serving fork. (Object ID no. 72.146.3. Viewed 26 July 2018. C00164).
patented 1885 - forkHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (patented 1885). Fork. Silver or silver plate. (Cat. no. 7344. Viewed 23 August 2018. J00070). 1885-98 - chafing dishHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (1885-98). Chafing dish. Silver or silver plate. (Accession no. 1969.694.1.1. Viewed 11 August 2018. L00009). c. 1886 - forkHolmes & Edwards. (c. 1886). Fork. (Accession no. NN 1032. Viewed 7 September 2020. J00663).
patented 1889 - cocktail strainerHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (patented 1889). Cocktail strainer. Silver or silver plate. (Cat. no. 88.10.22. Viewed 23 August 2018. J00071). c. 1889 - two nutpicksHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (c. 1889). Two nutpicks. Silver or silver plate. (Object ID. no. 1982.107.2195. Viewed 12 July 2018. G02628-29). |
1890s |
c. 1890 - butter knifeHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (c. 1890). Butter knife. (Accession no. 77.2.26. Viewed 10 April 2017. A02117.)
c. 1890-1910 - table knifeHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (c. 1890-1910). Table knife. Silver plate. (Object no. Z.1943. Viewed 11 June 2017. A02721.) 1890-1910 - butter knifeHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (1890-1910). Silver. (Object no. INV.14248. Viewed 14 April 2017. A02049.) 1895 - eight knives, Kings patternHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (1895). Eight knives, Kings pattern. Silver or silver plate. (Accession no. 2014.55. Viewed 26 August 2018. J00160-61). 1898-1941 - cardboard display with five spoonsHolmes & Edwards Silver Company / International Silver Co. (1898-1941). Cardboard display with five spoons. Artifact no. 1975.0177.001. Viewed 29 December 2018. J00240). The Holmes & Edwards Silver Company became part of the International Silver Company in 1898. After this date, it is assumed that any design patents utilized by the Holmes & Edwards Silver Company division or brand were assigned to the International Silver Company. (See the ISC historical documentation page). |
1900s | c. 1900 - dessert forkHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (c. 1900; late 19th / early 20th century). Dessert fork. Silver plate. (Accession no. T-92. Viewed 11 July 2018. G02556-57). c. 1900 - forkHolmes & Edwards Silver Company / (possibly ISC). (c. 1900). Cold meat fork. (Accession no. 1994.32.8. Viewed 10 April 2017. A02149.)
1900-1940? - berry spoonHolmes & Edwards Silver Company / ISC. (1900-1940?). Berry spoon. Silver plate. (Cat. ID no. 2005.152.33. Viewed 26 July 2018. C00168). c. 1908 - ladle, Lafayette patternHolmes & Edwards Silver Company / (ISC). (c. 1908). Ladle, Lafayette pattern. Silver plate. (Accession no. 1995.21.3. Viewed 31 May 2016. D00178.) |
1910s |
c. 1910 - spoonHolmes & Edwards Silver Co. / (ISC). (c. 1910). Spoon (used on the steamer B. B. Odell, Central Hudson Steamboat Company). Silver. (Object no. 1941.794. Viewed 11 June 2017. A02692.) 1915 - spoon and forkHolmes & Edwards / International Silver Co. (1915). Spoon and fork. (Accession no. H9-3-724. Viewed 3 September 2020. J00581).
c. 1915 - three spoonsHolmes & Edwards Silver Company / ISC. (c. 1915). Three spoons. Silver or silver plate. (Object ID. no. 1982.107.2183. Viewed 12 July 2018. G02622-23). c. 1915 - six forksHolmes & Edwards Silver Company / ISC. (c. 1915). Six forks. Silver or silver plate. (Object ID. no. 1982.107.2182. Viewed 12 July 2018. G02624-25). c. 1915 - forkHolmes & Edwards Silver Company / ISC. (c. 1915). Fork. Silver or silver plate. (Object ID. no. 1982.107.2184. Viewed 12 July 2018. G02626-27). c. 1915 - dinner knifeHolmes & Edwards Silver Company / ISC. (c. 1915). Dinner knife. Silver or silver plate. (Object ID. no. 1982.107.2185. Viewed 12 July 2018. G02630-31). 1916 - meat fork, Jamestown patternHolmes & Edwards Silver Company / International Silver Company. (1916). Meat fork, Jamestown pattern. Silver plate. (Cat. no. 2010.69.14. Viewed 25 August 2018. J00118-19). |
1920s | c. 1920 - demitasse spoon, Lafayette HotelHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (c. 1920). Demitasse spoon, Lafayette Hotel, Portland, Maine. (Object no. 2012.346. Viewed 10 July 2018. G02446-47). c. 1920 - forkHolmes & Edwards Silver Company / (ISC). (c. 1920). Cold meat fork. (Accession no. 1994.32.9. Viewed 10 April 2017. A02150.)
1920-70 - knifeHolmes & Edwards Silver Company / (ISC). (1920-70). Knife. Silver or silver plate. (Cat. no. 2015.00.107. Viewed 2 July 2018. G02134). c. 1923 - coffee spoon, Century patternHolmes & Edwards Silver Company / (ISC). (Patented 1923). Coffee spoon, Century pattern. Silver plate. (Accession no. 1990.7. Viewed 1 April 2017. A01888.) c. 1923 - soup spoon, Century patternHolmes & Edwards Silver Company / (ISC). (c. 1923). Soup spoon, Century pattern. Silver plate. (Accession no. 1995.154. Viewed 31 May 2016. D00180.) c. 1925-35 - serving spoonHolmes & Edwards Silver Company / ISC. (c. 1925-35). Serving spoon. (Object no. DHS.31326. Viewed 5 August 2017. A02808.) 1926 - coffee spoonHolmes & Edwards Silver Company / (ISC). (1926). Coffee spoon (for Hotel McAlpin). Silver plate. (Accession no. 2015.13.6. Viewed 8 April 2017. A02029.) c. 1929 - fork, knife, spoon, Napoleon patternHolmes & Edwards Silver Company / (ISC). (designed 1929). Napoleon pattern cutlery. Silver plate, stainless steel. (Accession nos. 1995.103.1-3. Viewed 7 March 2017. A01605-06; A01613.) 1929 - fork, Napoleon patternHolmes & Edwards Silver Co. / (ISC). (1929). Napoleon pattern fork. (Accession no. 2000.80.22. Viewed 6 May 2017. A02230.) 1929 - knife, Napoleon patternHolmes & Edwards Silver Company / (ISC). (1929). Napoleon pattern knife. Silver plate. (Accession no. 2000.80.6. Viewed 6 May 2017. A02234.) 1929 - spoon, Napoleon patternHolmes & Edwards Silver Company / (ISC). (1929). Spoon, Napoleon pattern. Silver. (Accession no. 2000.80.23. Viewed 14 April 2017. A02007.) Click the following link to see the parallel webpage - Holmes & Edwards Silver Company design catalogues and historical information. |
1930s | c. 1939 - two spoonsHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (c. 1939). Two spoons. Silver or silver plate. [Object ID nos. H.7558.49.A(-.B). Viewed 12 August 2018. L00251-52).
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1950s | c. 1950 - spoonHolmes & Edwards Silver Company / (ISC). (c. 1950). Spoon. (Cat. no. 2000-001-077. Viewed 17 July 2018. G02903).
c. 1951 - various flatware items and chestHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (c. 1951). Various flatware items: eight soup spoons, sixteen teaspoons, ten forks, nine spoons, eight forks, eight teaspoons, eighteen knives, ladle, cake server, chest. [Object ID nos. H.7558.26(-.26.A-.26.H), H.7558.27(-27.A-.27.Q), H.7558.28(-.28.A-.28.H), H.7558.29(-.29.A-.29.C), H.7558.30(-.30.A-.30.H), H.7558.31(-.31.A-.31.H), H.7558.32(-.32.A-.32.I), H.7558.33, H.7558.34(-.34.A-.34.H), H.7558.35(-.40), H.7558.62. Viewed 12 August 2018. L00223-49].
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n. d. | n. d. - demonstration plaqueHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Demonstration plaque showing silver in laid spoon and finished spoon. (Identifier: 81972. Viewed 14 May 2020. J00352). n. d. - sugar spoonHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (n. d.). Sugar spoon. (Object no. 1989.045.12.8. Viewed 16 April 2020. J00271). n. d. - five butter knivesHolmes & Edwards Silver Co. (undated). Five butter knives. (Accession no. 1999.466.1-5. Viewed 17 October 2020. J00869).
n. d. - spoonHolmes & Edwards. (undated). Spoon. (Accession no. 2000.960.001.9. Viewed 19 December 2021. J01490).
n. d. - serving spoonHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Serving spoon. Silver plate. (Object no. H 93754. Viewed 2 July 2018. A03042).
n. d. - ice cream serverHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Ice cream server. Silver or silver plate. (Cat. no. 2000.7.1435. Viewed 8 July 2018. G02394-97). n. d. - teaspoonHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Teaspoon. (Cat. no. 2014.999.071. Viewed 10 July 2018. G02448-49). after 1898 - serving spoonHolmes & Edwards Silver Company / International Silver Company. (after 1898). Serving spoon. Silver or silver plate. (Cat. no. PHM2012.01.1377. Viewed 26 August 2018. J00162-63). n. d. - demitasse spoonHolmes & Edwards Silver Co. (undated). Demitasse spoon. (Accession no. 1982.0204.0001. Viewed 20 November 2020. J00967).
n. d. - ladleHolmes & Edwards / International Silver Co. (undated). Ladle. (Accession no. JB.65.8.7. Viewed 3 September 2020. J00582).
n. d. - three teaspoonsHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Three teaspoons. (Object ID no. 86.294.72-.74. Viewed 26 July 2018. C00165-67).
n. d. - fork (pickle fork)Holmes & Edwards Silver Co. (undated). Fork (pickle fork). (Cat. no. H72.17.976. Viewed 8 September 2020. J00690).
n. d. - teaspoonHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Teaspoon. Silver or silver plate. (Cat. no. 46-20. Viewed 9 July 2018. G02422). n. d. - spoonHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Spoon (with scroll design in relief along handle). (Accession no. 1991.9.54. Viewed 27 March 2017. A01800.)
n. d. - six dessert spoonsHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Six dessert spoons. (Accession no. I-15-A, B. Viewed 10 April 2017. A02106.)
n. d. - cardboard boxHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Cardboard [presentation] box. (Accession no. 1978.141.58. Viewed 27 March 2017. A01801.)
1902-46 - sugar shell (spoon)Holmes & Edwards Silver Company / International Silver Company. (1902-46). Sugar shell (spoon). (Accession no. 1990.3.25. Viewed 23 August 2018. J00065-67).
Click the following link to see designs and documentation for other historical silver companies that were connected to the International Silver Company, and those from the Meriden area; go to the historical Meriden design overview page and scroll down to section D: "ISC, predecessors & divisions" and E: "Other featured companies". |
B. Holmes & Edwards Silver Company designs at auction
n. d. | late 19th c. - 20th c. - six fruit spoonsHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (late 19th / 20th century). Six Holmes & Edwards silverplate fruit spoons. (Viewed 31 May 2016. D00181.)
20th c. - serving piecesHolmes & Edwards Silver Company / (ISC). (20th century). Serving pieces. Silver plate. (Viewed 31 May 2016. D00182.)
mid-late 20th c. - flatware serviceHolmes & Edwards Silver Company / (ISC). (mid-late 20th century). Flatware service. Silver plate. (Viewed 31 May 2016. D00183.)
n. d. - flatware setHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Flatware set for twelve. (Viewed 31 May 2016. D00184.)
n. d. - pastry serverHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Pastry server. Sterling silver. (Viewed 10 June 2016. F00006.)
n. d. - partial flatware setHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Partial flatware set. (Viewed 10 June 2016. F00007.)
n. d. - flatware setHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). "First lady" flatware set. Silver plate. (Viewed 10 June 2016. F00008.)
n. d. - jelly serverHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Danish Princess jelly server. Silver-plate. (Viewed 11 June 2016. F00011.)
mid-late 20th c. - part flatware setHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (mid-late 20th century). Part flatware set: twelve dinner knives, twelve dinner forks, twelve salad forks, eleven tablespoons, twenty-two teaspoons, eleven butter spreaders, and a cheese knife. Silver plate. (Viewed 15 July 2018. G02751).
mid-20th c. - pastry serverHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (mid-20th century). Pastry server. Silver plate. (Viewed 15 July 2018. G02752).
n. d. - gravy ladleHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Gravy ladle. (Viewed 11 June 2016. F00012.)
n. d. - four partial flatware setsHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Four partial flatware sets. (Viewed 23 August 2017. G00009.)
n. d. - twelve forksHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Twelve forks. (Viewed 11 June 2016. F00013.)
n. d. - one cold meat fork, two berry spoonsHolmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). One cold meat fork, two berry spoons. (Viewed 15 July 2018. G02762).
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C. Holmes & Edwards Silver Company designs in exhibitions
1880s | 1883 - American Institute Fair, New York1883. (Specific dates unknown). The American Institute Fair, New York. > Unspecified designs by Holmes & Edwards Silver Co. exhibited and "Bronze medal awarded to Holmes & Edwards Silver Co. for electro-silverplated tableware".
1888 - American Institute Fair, New York1888. (Specific dates unknown). The American Institute Fair, New York. > Unspecified designs exhibited by Holmes & Edwards Silver Company, with "Bronze medal awarded to Holmes & Edwards Silver Co. for silverplated spoons and forks, sterling silver inlaid."
1889 - American Institute Fair, New York1889. (Specific dates unknown). The American Institute Fair, New York. > Unspecified designs exhibited by Holmes & Edwards Silver Company, with "Bronze medal awarded... for sterling silver inlaid spoons and forks and initial spoons and forks."
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1890s | 1892 - fair in Bridgeport(c. 1892). Fair [title unknown] in Bridgeport, CT. > Unspecified designs exhibited by Holmes & Edwards Silver Co.
1893 - World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago1 May - 30 October 1893. World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago. See: (1893). World’s Columbian Exposition, 1893 (Chicago), Official catalogue, Part VIII. [Listed: Holmes & Edwards Silver Company (Bridgeport) (p. 28)]. W. B. Conkey Company: Chicago. (Viewed 8 January 2017. A00850; A02429; AAA00588.)
Also see: (1898). Connecticut at the World’s Fair: Report of the commissioners from Connecticut of the Columbian Exhibition of 1893 at Chicago. [Listed: Holmes & Edwards Silver Co. (p. 128)]. (Viewed 2 March 2017. A01528-31.) 1894 - California Mid-Winter International Exhibition28 January 1894 - unknown date. California Mid-Winter International Exhibition, San Francisco, CA. > Exhibited unspecified designs by Holmes & Edwards Silver Company ("Gold medal awarded... for sterling silver inlaid spoons and forks; silver medal".)
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1910s | 1915 - Panama-Pacific Exposition (presumably)20 February - 4 December 1915. Panama-Pacific International Exposition, San Francisco. > Presumably unspecified designs exhibited by Holmes & Edwards Silver Co. / International Silver Co.
See other exhibitions noted as including unspecified International Silver Company designs (1898-present). At this developing research point, Holmes & Edwards Silver Co. designs could have been exhibited in some of these exhibitions. |
1920s | 1924 - St. Louis convention exhibit25 August - 3 September 1924. American National Retail Jewelers’ Association convention exhibits, Hotel Statler, St. Louis, Missouri. > Unspecified designs exhibited by Holmes & Edwards / International Silver Company.
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1930s | 1930-31 - American Federation of Arts travelling exhibition4 venues: 1930-31. International exhibition of contemporary metalwork and cotton textiles, organized by the American Federation of Arts, Washington, DC. (Viewed 31 March 2017. A01871-76.)
1937 - Good Housekeeping exhibition house, Kansas City25 March 1937 - date unknown. Good Housekeeping-Country Club District exhibition house, Kansas City, Missouri. > Exhibited designs: unspecified flatware, "Holmes & Edwards Inlaid" / International Silver Co.
1938 - display in G. Fox & Co., Hartfordc. 24 - 30 April 1938. Connecticut made week at G. Fox & Co., Hartford. > Unspecified designs displayed by Holmes and Edwards [/ International Silver Co.]
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1990s | 1996 - Dallas Museum of Art exhibition31 March - 14 July 1996. Hot cars, high fashion, cool stuff: Designs of the 20th century at Dallas Museum of Art. (Viewed 2 August 2018. AAA03380-82.) > Exhibited Holmes & Edwards Silver Co. / ISC. (designed 1929). Napoleon pattern flatware. (Dallas Museum of Art collection, listed above.)
See our Design Meriden compilation listing over 1000 exhibitions since 1851, featuring historical design associated with the Meriden area. |
Footnote:
[1] The Holmes & Edwards Silver Company was acquired by the International Silver Company in 1898. At this juncture, it is not known at Design Meriden if they continued operations under this name after the acquisition. See "A Guide to the International Silver Company Records, 1853-1921". University of Connecticut university libraries website. Viewed 15 May 2016 [A00660-61]
[2] May, Earl Chapin. (1947). A century of silver 1847-1947, (p. 368-69). Robert M. McBride & Company: New York. Viewed 15 March 2017. [DM]
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On Holmes & Edwards - 1: designs in collections, etc. | 2: design catalogues, etc.