posted 04-21-1999 12:49 AM            

Special Features

In 1862 John R. Wendt was issued a design patent for die cut flatware bearing a medallion of the Roman Tradition. Soeffing (3) The innovation became so popular that 20 other manufacturers would follow the lead in the next decade and produce Medallion flatware. The style was revived in 1880 and finally died out around 1910. Due largely to Soeffing's publication (3), Medallion today has it's own legion of avid collectors.

Dating
We have some pieces marked "Coin" and others marked 925. I would assume that the coin are the oldest.

Wendt was defunct by 1870, so that normally one could assume that no pieces made after 1870 exist. However part of the business was sold to Dominick and Haff and both the Jeweler's circular and Dolan refer to the pattern as D&H with a 1905 date. Even Turner goes so far as to not show it under Wendt but to list a D&H Medallion of 1905 on page 92 but did not include the picture. Therefore it may be that the pattern was produced after 1870

Pieces Available

Piece size our Cost
Tablespoon 8 �" $85.00
Ice Cream Spoon 6" $79.00
Teaspoon 6" $30.00
Demi-Tasse 4 �" $85.00
Dinner Fork 7 �" $70.00
Luncheon Fork 6 �" $50.00
Pastry/Salad Fork 6" $65.00

Have seen Dessert/Tea Knives, heard of an oval soup but have never seen one.

Photo of place pieces:

To see an enlarge image of above click here

Key Pieces

We are not sure what the third fork is- salad or pastry, but we were certainly pleased to find it.

Comments

This is probably the most plentiful of the Medallion patterns as well as the first. The coffee or demi-tasse spoon was shown in the design patent of 1862. Soeffing states that most were retailed by Ball & Black. My coin versions were all Braverman & Levy with the .925 including J.C. Caldwell, DH Buell, Starr & Marcus.

Questions

Were any produced after 1870? Did D&H make any? Are there oval soup/dessert spoons? Has anyone seen an original set- what kind of knives were used? What is our third fork? Salad? Pastry? Pickle?