Silver Plated Footed Bowl

Silver-plated footed centerpiece bowl with decorative border and pedestal base.

History & Background

Footed silver bowls served as centerpieces on formal Victorian and Edwardian dining tables, often used for fruit, punch, flowers, or decorative display. American manufacturers such as Meriden Britannia, Reed & Barton, and Gorham produced these pieces in large numbers to meet demand from the growing middle class seeking to furnish formal dining rooms. The combination of a decorative pedestal base with a wide bowl allowed for dramatic floral arrangements and substantial fruit displays. These pieces are now valued both as decorative objects and as examples of American silversmithing tradition.

• Time Period: Late 19th - Early 20th Century
• Origin: United States