Homan Vintage Silver Plate Art Deco Octag. Tray, C. 1930

This Wonderful Octagonal Silverplate Tray is A Great Example of Vintage Art Deco Silverware and was manufactured by the Homan Silver Plate Company.  It is electroplated on a nickel silver base. The Homan Manufacturing Company has a history dating back to 1847. 

COMMENT: This is A Lovely Example of Hand Hammered or Hand Punched Metal Wares of The Art Deco Period with A Tinge of The “Arts & Crafts Movement”.

HISTORY OF HOMAN SILVER COMPANY:

Henry Homan and Asa F. Flagg formed a partnership in Cincinnati, Ohio, for the manufacture of pewter wares. Homan & Co. pieces were often marked "Flagg & Homan", at that time. After Henry died, his widow and sons ran the firm until 1887. During this period, they changed over a great deal of their production to electroplating with silver and sometimes gold.

Homan & Co. became known for ecclesiastical designs (chalices, beakers, tankards, etc.). They also had commissions from Ohio - Mississippi river boats for equipment ranging from swivel lamps to water pitchers.

In 1896, the firm was listed as the Homan Silver Plate Co., and between 1904 and 1915, they became the Homan Mfg. Co. They were out of business by 1941. (Reference: Rainwater, Dorothy T. & Redfield, Judy,
The Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers, 4th ed., Schiffer '98).

CONDITION: This Octagonal Silverplate Tray has a very light surface scratching which is to be expected for a tray of this vintage. However, overall condition is very fine.

SILVERPLATE CONDITION NOTE:

Some minor conditional problems that are a common occurrence or commonplace with "antique and vintage" silverplate pieces which are considered acceptable and by general standards considered as "patina" are minor or light surface scratching and slight wear or minor bleeding of the base metal which is generally copper, brass or Britannica metal.

• Teapots, Coffee pots and Jugs generally show some interior discoloration and pitting due to the chemical interaction of the tea, coffee or other beverages with the various base metals if left sitting for long time periods and not properly cleaned after each usage. Teapots almost always have discoloration on the "interior" bottom.
• Trays normally have light surface scratching and bleeding of the base metal. Antique and Vintage Trays almost always show surface wear on the reverse side (back side).
• Flatware, for example forks, knives, spoons, etc., because of their usage, will on many occasions exhibit some light surface scratching.
• Candlesticks, at the insert top section, sometimes will exhibit slight discoloration where the candle burns too low; also sometimes on the underneath side of the base, wear will show.
• Entree Dishes, if not accompanied with glass liners, will also sometimes have surface scratches from utensils while serving.

"Antique and Vintage Silverplate" are not "new" items and therefore will almost always exhibit slight wear (bleeding) and light surface scratching. Normally if there is any relief work, that is embossing or floral, many times will show slight bleeding of the base metal.

Many Victorian Art Nouveau and Edwardian pieces of silverplate will almost always show bleeding and sometimes need re-silvering. Re-silvering is frowned upon and is not always recommended by purists, especially when it comes to Georgian and Early Victorian silverplate. Re-silvering of really early pieces, Georgian to Mid-Victorian, can devalue pieces. Generally speaking, "re-silvering" is a personal matter of choice.