Derby Silver Company was an American silversmith located in Derby, Connecticut. It was founded in 1873 and specialised in silver-plated hollowware. U.S. Patent No. 15,642, June 26, 1888, registered by Watson J. Miller and Henry Berry for M & B sterling trademark for forks, spoons, tea sets, brushes, mirrors and pitchers.
Merger with International Silver Company
In 1898, the Derby Silver Company became a division of the International Silver Company, headquartered in Meriden, Connecticut. Despite the merger, Derby continued producing items under its brand until the factory closed in 1933. This period marked a blend of independence and collaboration, preserving Derby’s distinct identity within the larger corporation.
Early Success
The company’s first few years of production were devoted to flatware. They gradually dropped flatware and started silverplated holloware, which continued under Colonel Watson J. Miller, who came from New York in 1879. The company produced a wide range of items, including:
- Bathroom accessories
- Clocks
- Tableware
- Flatware
- Tea sets
- Candlesticks
- Fruit baskets
Its showrooms in major cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco highlighted the company’s commitment to serving a diverse and affluent clientele. They put out an extensive line of plated dresserwares. The factory continued to operate in Birmingham (Derby) until July 1933, when the owners consolidated it with other plants.
Derby Silver Company Collection
Museum Collections and Legacy
The designs of the Derby Silver Company are celebrated today in prestigious museum collections, including:
- Brooklyn Museum
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
- Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Connecticut
These collections preserve Derby’s contributions to decorative arts, showcasing its intricate craftsmanship and design sensibilities.
Sources
Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing. https://amzn.to/3D28Js2
The Derby Silver Company: Connecticut history: A humanities project. Connecticut History | a Humanities Project. (2013, January 19). Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://connecticuthistory.org/the-derby-silver-company/.
Rainwater, D. T. (1975). Encyclopedia of American silver manufacturers. Crown. https://amzn.to/3I26Uza
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