John asks:

Hello,
What I know about the set

It is made by Meriden as the marks show, one piece has Rogers Brothers stamp on it, but by 1887 Meriden had purchased that company so I guess they made the same pieces.

The tray is from a different set, the stamp says style 109 24.  The pieces say style 1951.  But they go together because all the pieces have a “D” etched on them for “Dundas”

I have attached the original catalog images of both sets.  The catalog is titled “Meriden Britannia Silver-Plate Treasury - The Complete Catalog of 1886-7”.

What I know about the owner is that I found a census records from San Fransico in 1900, 1910, and 1920 of a William A. and Anna Dundas.  He was Born in Ireland in 1860 and came to the USA in 1875. The census states they were married in 1887. They had one daughter named Grace.  I also found a 1930 census record that shows Grace in San Fransico and single with no children, just another female adult roommate.  It does not seem there were any other family members left to keep this set.

I could not find any info on a J.L. White & Co. from that time, the census record from 1900 states Willam was a “Manager Department Store”  It’s a little fuzzy, but that looks like what it says.  The 1910 and 1920 census states he was an insurance salesman.

Well that’s all I know…your help is appreciated.

Thanks,
John

AW says: Meriden Silver collaborated with other small companies under the International Silver Company brand. The parent company is still in operation today and is owned by Syratech Corp in Massachusetts. International took under it’s roof, fourteen other companies including Rogers Brothers, Holmes and Edwards during the 1890s.

Your’s is a very attractive tea service, but the provenance does not add value as it’s not of enough historic importance to do so.

Also, your set is monogrammed, which will take a bit of value off. That’s the bad news, the good news is that this was a very good quality set when it was made, and the fact that there are two teapots with the other pieces, means it’s a complete set.

It’s also very aesthetically pleasing, which is of greatest importance to value.

Circa 1880s

Retail value: $275-$325

Wholesale value: $125

Quick sale vale: $75