The tray is a rectangular shape with folded edges. The picot edge is just hinted at with irregular crimping of the curved part. The ribbon handle has a high shine and no patina. The stamp is smaller and centrally located and the Hammered effect is not close to the bas relief stamp. The detail of the tulip bouquet is beautiful. Very dimensional. Some of the hammering encroached on the design and hammered out edges of the leaves.
The central part of the ribbon handle is polished. The weight of the handle and the tray feel substantial.
Stamped with the" Krischer GiftWear" logo, the bottom of the tray was completely hammered. It is my estimation that this was produced in 1930, give or take a couple years.
The next time the bridal basket is marketed, it has a new look. The bouquet is larger, but still a beautifully detailed bas relief. The center of the ribbon handle now has small hammered texture.
And it comes with a new logo, The Rodney Kent Silver Co. Production time 1933 to about 1938, in my estimation.
Version 3 is late 30's with the addition of a black patina to enhance the detail of if the Gros Grain ribbon handle and the large tulip stamp.
The stamp is now the most recognizable, shield saying "Hand Wrought Creations by Rodney Kent"
The fourth version has the patina, but the stamp has been reduced in size to the original Krischer GiftWear size. This basket has it's original tag. Since the use of the postal code in the address was not required until 1943, we can confidently say this is early 40's.
Now the tray shape is recognizably #420, but the Gros Grain ribbon handle has been replaced with the flower and ribbon design where the ribbon becomes the feet of the tray.
Notice how the detail of the bouquet fades into the hammered background texture? The quality of production is failing. This may be due to the fact that the aluminum plate is getting thinner.
Finally, the same design is again produced, but this time under a new number, #449.
Notice how thin the tray has become. A new handle pattern is introduced.
This model is the only one that I have with all the stamp changes. There are a few serving trays with different tulip stamp sizes and the same number. I feel confident in saying that the Triangle logo was the earliest and it is that stamp that has the most design motif changes. Those models with tulip finial on their lids evolved as well. They will be covered in other blogs.
As with all stories, where there is a beginning, there is an end. Next blog will be on the end of the line in the late 50's early 60's. For those interested collectors, there is a really good bargain on eBay this week. I'd buy it, but I already have it; A double compartment Pyrex bowl in a chafing dish with the candle and the advertising. All that's missing is the box and the verification number. It could be 475, but it's not stamped and the box is missing so we may never know. Happy hunting.
