WHITING Manufacturing QUARTER CUT OAK SILVER CHEST
The 1870s and 1880s were some of the most innovative and exciting decades in the history of the American silver industry. Postwar prosperity, the discovery of silver in the American West, and innovations in manufacturing created an ideal environment for the design and fashioning of original objects.
Whiting Manufacturing Co was formed in 1866 in North Atleboro Massachusetts. Destroyed by fire in 1875, manufacturing and offices moved to 692-694 Broadway at Fourth Street in New York City (the address on this box is Union Square & 16th St). Bought by Gorham in 1906, production continued as Whiting until that was discontinued in 1926.
Whiting Manufacturing Company was among the most prolific and successful silver companies in the period. Its small production was of exceptional handmade silver flatware, hollowware and other decorative objects such as snuff boxes. In order to compete with Gorham and Tiffany – and for what it is best known today – are the beautifully designed and executed Japanese-inspired silver it made between 1874 and 1890. While Tiffany and Company and the Gorham Manufacturing Company were larger, more established manufacturers, Whiting’s designers were particularly original in appropriating Japanese and naturalistic motifs drawn from Japanese prints, pottery, metalwork, and textiles-as well as from European print sources. The most original and commercially successful designs were the hammered water pitchers and bowls, encrusted with silver carp and seashells, catering to the fascination with nature at the time. Silver salts were shaped like lotus blossoms.
I could find no information about the wood boxes manufactured for Whiting to hold their silver collections. They are not rare on E-Bay.
In 2020, I purchased a Whiting silver chest on E-Bay. It was my first ever E-Bay purchase and I paid too much (US$148.85). The box has gorgeous quarter cut grain with a deep yellow patina. It is varnished. Besides scuff marks, the box in excellent condition.
Construction is of the highest quality.
Outside Dimensions: 18 3/8” X 14 ¼” X 7 5/8” deep. Wood is ½” wide so the inside dimensions are 1” smaller all the way around.
Drawer Front. 16 5/16” X 2 7/16” with no drawer and lying loose in box. Two inset finger pulls on front set in brass plates 1 ¾” X 1 3/16”. Lightly glued with two spot welds of hot glue.
Brass Fittings. All wonderful deep bronze patina.
Top centre brass plate: 3 ¾’ X 2 ¾”. Screws on corners. No inscription. Set in inlaid oak 12 3/8” X 8 3/8” rectangle with 1/8” inlaid edge.
The four top corners have a corner attached with nails.
Brass key escutcheon. 1 ¾” X 1 ¼” attached with screws. No key. 90-degree angle brackets on all 8 exterior corners of bottom of box.
Two brass handles that lock at 90-degrees and set in brass plates 4 7/8” X 1”.
Inside. Empty except for cloth gathered inside of the original silver box with 3 lines of gold writing “Whiting Mfg Co. Silversmiths. Union Square & 16th St. N.Y.” Wood unfinished and unstained but none was visible in the original silver box.
Lock. 2 sideways moving latches that engage to the right. Latch in lock position and box opened by twisting top to right to disengage the latches. I tried several keys but could not find one. I then wrote the seller, who simply said “it is not locked”.
Two brass hinges, 6 screws each.
Back lock for drawer. When the cover is closed, spring loaded pin depressed engaging a hoop in the back of the drawer).
All sides have a ¼” groove at the top that I believe held supports for the shelf that probably existed in this box.