Some Oddities of Rodney Kent

My summer has been busy with little time to write so here are photos of some of the rare pieces in my collection.

 

#447  the Breakfast Utility Set

Notice the plastic spoons, which are the correct spoons for many of the condiment jars.

 

 

 

 

This lovely was used to hold citronella candles.

 

This is the 5 pc table buffet set with Frying pan and lid, serving container (note the lack of handles) and snuffer for the

 

 

The only teardrop shaped glassware for Rodney Kent

 

 

The Rodney Kent Ashtray.

 

 

 

Sometimes, the box is the only way to find out what the number is.

 

 

 

Square candy dish ... also sold with two rectangles

 

 

 

And when there seemed that there were no more things they could do with tulips, they moved on to  Sunflowers. Below is #503

 

 

And the same bowl shape as 405 is used for 506

 

 

 

 

 

 and the most recent find, #407 with the 4 tulip display instead of the ribbon display. Since the stamp on this is the triangle Rodney Kent Silver Co stamp this is an early offering.

Detective work on Rodney Kent, imposter??

I have been really busy this June and didn't get to write. Before I knew it, it was July. Still while I wasn't blogging, I was still collecting.

Item # 1 - Salt shakers

 

I have never seen a table set with salt shakers, so I bid on these because they had such a nice shape and the glass bottoms were in good shape. Probably not Rodney Kent since it is missing all the signs, but they were calling me none the less. Plus, bidding started at $1.00.

 

 

 

Then maybe I am wrong because I came across the above photo 3 years ago and I just saved the photo that the seller had posted since I wasn't sure about the piece. Lo, and behold, there are the salt shakers. The exact salt shakers. So maybe I was right. More research is needed, and if anyone has any input, I'm waiting.

 

I write to sellers on eBay and other sites and ask them about their finds. I meet some interesting people and learn a lot So while my foray into salt shakers with aluminum tops didn't help my detective work a lot, this next conversation did.

  

2. The elusive pitcher - Southern Living or Real RK?

 

 

 

 

While bidding on another piece, I wrote to the seller  about how she knew there was a pitcher in the set she was selling. I have only seen a glass pitcher once in my searches, and I was stupid enough to pass it by. The seller, in turn, miraculously found this photo (see, I am not the only one that clips photos for reference) of what she said was posted as the Southern Living Set. This may have been a promotional set through the magazine Southern Living in their Home section. Now the job is to find out if it was offered at a contemporary time or it is a reproduction. The eBay seller that I have been in correspondence with says that She has had two separate  eBayers tell her this is a reproduction group. The above photo was sent to her with the note that it is a copy of the magazine ad.

 

 

the butter dish that I know is RK

 

the sugar bowl with tray that belongs to the creamer

 Another view of the sugar bowl

 

the case for the divided square glass holder

 

the sugar and the square glass sugar packet holder or maybe tea bag holder. I don't want to discriminate against tea drinkers..

 

So the creamer is square shaped with a pressed pattern in the glass like the triple rib shown in all the RK pieces. And it sits on a tray. As for the divided glass piece, it could have been to hold sugar packets.  But I have always had issues with these pieces. I thought that the quality was just deteriorating. The butter dish is a staple in the Rodney Kent line and was used with various sets. Most butter dishes with older sets ( and I have some still in their original boxes), had good quality stamping and a picot edge on the lid. The trays of one of the stand alone dishes was stamped 470. These  poorly stamped butter dishes have no stamp. The metal is thinner. The picot edge is barely there. I still would like to get my hands on the pitcher. The idea that this may have been a promo or reproduction piece from Southern Living magazine, which I understand is no longer in print, could possibly explain the piece below.

 

 

These two jars have the recognizable mini tulip lid finial of the RK line, but nothing else about them seems correct. All the little jars by Kriescher are globe-like and small jars like this, often meant for condiments had notches cut in the lid to allow for a spoon. The ribbing on the glass has always been the triple rib design, not this equal all over rib. Lastly, the hammered stamping quality never showed the circular machine head in the stamping. The idea that this is a reproduction makes a lot of sense. Pretty as they are, they probably don't merit being included in the collection list.

 

Now I will have to review my whole collection again and see if any other pieces show the  issues of these four pieces or if these indeed are reproductions as some claim. Any input or dates would be appreciated.