Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Ralston Dinner Fork, c. 1852-1915 |
Object Name |
Fork, Dinner |
Description |
Ralston Dinner Fork, c. 1860s. Solid silver. Fork has four tines, a narrow neck and a teardrop-shaped end. Edge of handle is decorated with a row of stamped circles. Top of handle is inscribed, "Lizzie" on front and "From Uncle" on back. |
Date |
c. 1852-1915 |
Creator |
Shreve & Co., San Francisco |
Catalog Number |
1972.090.011E |
Dimensions |
H-0.75 W-6.875 D-1 inches |
Collection |
3D - Food Service Tools & Equipment |
Inscription Text |
"Lizzie" & "From Uncle" (inscribed on each side of handle end); "GC & SS SHREVE (stamped into back of neck) |
Provenance |
Was used at the William C. Ralston Estate. |
Notes |
Elizabeth "Lizzie" Fry Ralston was William C. Ralston's wife; this fork might have been a gift from her uncle John D. Fry. "Lizzie Fry, more precisely Miss Elizabeth Red, was a niece and adopted daughter of Colonel (by courtesy) John D. Fry, formerly sheriff of Green County, Illinois, and a member of the Illinois legislature. ... Elizabeth Red, born in Illinois, had, upon adoption, taken her uncle’s name and had followed him to California after he had established himself there." [http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/ralston-fry_wedding/ 10/20/2017] Shreve & Co. were jewelry and silverware manufacturers, founded in San Francisco in 1852. According to (1), this maker's stamp was used from 1852 to 1857; but according to (2), flatware production did not start until the 1880s and possibly not until as late as 1904. However, (3) does not list this pattern as being one of the ones manufactured after 1904, so it is possible that its records are incomplete and/or that this spoon was made earlier. [(1) https://witherells.com/lot/g-c-s-s-shreve-1852-1857-silver-ladle-23248410/25/2017 (2) http://www.chineseargent.com/home/shreve-co-patterns10/25/2017 (3) http://www.925-1000.com/patterns_Shreve.html10/25/2017 ] |
Search Terms |
Filoli Ralston Estate Ralston, Elizabeth San Francisco Silver Woodside |
Subjects |
Eating & drinking Food Silver Silverware |
People |
Ralston, Elizabeth |
Credit line |
Courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Merrill |