Holmes & Edwards Silver Company designs in collections, at auction, and in exhibitions

Holmes & Edwards silver Holmes & Edwards silver Holmes & Edwards silver


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 pot

Holmes & 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 spoon

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (1882-96). Souvenir spoon. (Accession no. 1968.209.3. Viewed 24 July 2016. A01100.)

1882-98 - butter knife

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (1882-98). Butter knife ("scalloped edge, no decoration"). (Identifier: V 6398.4. Viewed 14 May 2020. J00347).

1882-98 - teaspoon

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (1882-98). Teaspoon ("very plain"). (Identifier: V 6398.1a-f. Viewed 14 May 2020. J00348).

1882-98 - spoon

Holmes & 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 spoon

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (1882-98). Iced tea spoon. (Identifier: V 6379. Viewed 14 May 2020. J00350).

1882-98 - dinner fork

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (1882-98). Dinner fork. (Identifier: V 6398.3a-f. Viewed 14 May 2020. J00351).

1885 - serving fork

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (1885). Serving fork. (Object ID no. 72.146.3. Viewed 26 July 2018. C00164).

patented 1885 - fork

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (patented 1885). Fork. Silver or silver plate. (Cat. no. 7344. Viewed 23 August 2018. J00070).

1885-98 - chafing dish

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (1885-98). Chafing dish. Silver or silver plate. (Accession no. 1969.694.1.1. Viewed 11 August 2018. L00009).

c. 1886 - fork

Holmes & Edwards. (c. 1886). Fork. (Accession no. NN 1032. Viewed 7 September 2020. J00663).

patented 1889 - cocktail strainer

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (patented 1889). Cocktail strainer. Silver or silver plate. (Cat. no. 88.10.22. Viewed 23 August 2018. J00071).

c. 1889 - two nutpicks

Holmes & 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 knife

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (c. 1890). Butter knife. (Accession no. 77.2.26. Viewed 10 April 2017. A02117.)

c. 1890-1910 - table knife

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (c. 1890-1910). Table knife. Silver plate. (Object no. Z.1943. Viewed 11 June 2017. A02721.)

1890-1910 - butter knife

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (1890-1910). Silver. (Object no. INV.14248. Viewed 14 April 2017. A02049.)

1895 - eight knives, Kings pattern

Holmes & 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 spoons

Holmes & 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 fork

Holmes & 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 - fork

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company / (possibly ISC). (c. 1900). Cold meat fork. (Accession no. 1994.32.8. Viewed 10 April 2017. A02149.)

1900-1940? - berry spoon

Holmes & 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 pattern

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company / (ISC). (c. 1908). Ladle, Lafayette pattern. Silver plate. (Accession no. 1995.21.3. Viewed 31 May 2016. D00178.)


1910s

c. 1910 - spoon

Holmes & 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 fork

Holmes & Edwards / International Silver Co. (1915). Spoon and fork. (Accession no. H9-3-724. Viewed 3 September 2020. J00581).

c. 1915 - three spoons

Holmes & 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 forks

Holmes & 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 - fork

Holmes & 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 knife

Holmes & 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 pattern

Holmes & 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 Hotel

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (c. 1920). Demitasse spoon, Lafayette Hotel, Portland, Maine. (Object no. 2012.346. Viewed 10 July 2018. G02446-47).

c. 1920 - fork

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company / (ISC). (c. 1920). Cold meat fork. (Accession no. 1994.32.9. Viewed 10 April 2017. A02150.)

1920-70 - knife

Holmes & 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 pattern

Holmes & 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 pattern

Holmes & 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 spoon

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company / ISC. (c. 1925-35). Serving spoon. (Object no. DHS.31326. Viewed 5 August 2017. A02808.)

1926 - coffee spoon

Holmes & 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 pattern

Holmes & 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 pattern

Holmes & Edwards Silver Co. / (ISC). (1929). Napoleon pattern fork. (Accession no. 2000.80.22. Viewed 6 May 2017. A02230.)

1929 - knife, Napoleon pattern

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company / (ISC). (1929). Napoleon pattern knife. Silver plate. (Accession no. 2000.80.6. Viewed 6 May 2017. A02234.)

1929 - spoon, Napoleon pattern

Holmes & 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 spoons

Holmes & 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).


1950s

c. 1950 - spoon

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company / (ISC). (c. 1950). Spoon. (Cat. no. 2000-001-077. Viewed 17 July 2018. G02903).

c. 1951 - various flatware items and chest

Holmes & 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].


n. d.

n. d. - demonstration plaque

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Demonstration plaque showing silver in laid spoon and finished spoon. (Identifier: 81972. Viewed 14 May 2020. J00352).

n. d. - sugar spoon

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (n. d.). Sugar spoon. (Object no. 1989.045.12.8. Viewed 16 April 2020. J00271).

n. d. - five butter knives

Holmes & Edwards Silver Co. (undated). Five butter knives. (Accession no. 1999.466.1-5. Viewed 17 October 2020. J00869).

n. d. - spoon

Holmes & Edwards. (undated). Spoon. (Accession no. 2000.960.001.9. Viewed 19 December 2021. J01490).

n. d. - serving spoon

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Serving spoon. Silver plate. (Object no. H 93754. Viewed 2 July 2018. A03042).

n. d. - ice cream server

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Ice cream server. Silver or silver plate. (Cat. no. 2000.7.1435. Viewed 8 July 2018. G02394-97).

n. d. - teaspoon

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Teaspoon. (Cat. no. 2014.999.071. Viewed 10 July 2018. G02448-49).

after 1898 - serving spoon

Holmes & 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 spoon

Holmes & Edwards Silver Co. (undated). Demitasse spoon. (Accession no. 1982.0204.0001. Viewed 20 November 2020. J00967).

n. d. - ladle

Holmes & Edwards / International Silver Co. (undated). Ladle. (Accession no. JB.65.8.7. Viewed 3 September 2020. J00582).

n. d. - three teaspoons

Holmes & 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. - teaspoon

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Teaspoon. Silver or silver plate. (Cat. no. 46-20. Viewed 9 July 2018. G02422).

n. d. - spoon

Holmes & 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 spoons

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Six dessert spoons. (Accession no. I-15-A, B. Viewed 10 April 2017. A02106.)

n. d. - cardboard box

Holmes & 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).

  • Offline - New Haven Museum, Connecticut.



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 spoons

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (late 19th / 20th century). Six Holmes & Edwards silverplate fruit spoons. (Viewed 31 May 2016. D00181.)

20th c. - serving pieces

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company / (ISC). (20th century). Serving pieces. Silver plate. (Viewed 31 May 2016. D00182.)

mid-late 20th c. - flatware service

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company / (ISC). (mid-late 20th century). Flatware service. Silver plate. (Viewed 31 May 2016. D00183.)

n. d. - flatware set

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Flatware set for twelve. (Viewed 31 May 2016. D00184.)

n. d. - pastry server

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Pastry server. Sterling silver. (Viewed 10 June 2016. F00006.)

n. d. - partial flatware set

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Partial flatware set. (Viewed 10 June 2016. F00007.)

n. d. - flatware set

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). "First lady" flatware set. Silver plate. (Viewed 10 June 2016. F00008.)

n. d. - jelly server

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Danish Princess jelly server. Silver-plate. (Viewed 11 June 2016. F00011.)

mid-late 20th c. - part flatware set

Holmes & 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 server

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (mid-20th century). Pastry server. Silver plate. (Viewed 15 July 2018. G02752).

n. d. - gravy ladle

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Gravy ladle. (Viewed 11 June 2016. F00012.)

n. d. - four partial flatware sets

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Four partial flatware sets. (Viewed 23 August 2017. G00009.)

n. d. - twelve forks

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). Twelve forks. (Viewed 11 June 2016. F00013.)

n. d. - one cold meat fork, two berry spoons

Holmes & Edwards Silver Company. (undated). One cold meat fork, two berry spoons. (Viewed 15 July 2018. G02762).


C. Holmes & Edwards Silver Company designs in exhibitions


1880s

1883 - American Institute Fair, New York

1883. (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 York

1888. (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 York

1889. (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."


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, Chicago

1 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 Exhibition

28 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".)


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 exhibit

25 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.


1930s

1930-31 - American Federation of Arts travelling exhibition

4 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.)

  • Venues: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (15 October - 10 November 1930); Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (1-28 December 1930); Art Institute of Chicago (19 January - 1 March 1931); Cleveland Museum of Art (11 March - 5 April 1931).

1937 - Good Housekeeping exhibition house, Kansas City

25 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., Hartford

c. 24 - 30 April 1938. Connecticut made week at G. Fox & Co., Hartford.

> Unspecified designs displayed by Holmes and Edwards [/ International Silver Co.]


1990s

1996 - Dallas Museum of Art exhibition

31 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]



DESIGN MERIDEN:
On Holmes & Edwards - 1: designs in collections, etc. | 2: design catalogues, etc.