Victorian Child with Begging Dog Napkin Ring by Meriden Circa 1870

A fanciful, fun, shiny napkin ring by the Victorian silver plate company of Meriden. The cast design is of a child getting the pet dog to beg while they hold a cookie. This figure is attached to a base that also holds a circular napkin ring. The napkin ring itself has a repousse band of geometric designs with a diamond shield and the engraved initials R.J.

The base is rectangular and has a shallow raised foot. The base has the stamped mark MERIDEN & COMPANY. These words circle a set of scales. There is another circle with the words QUADRUPLEPLATE. There is a production number of 199 and below this are the letters U.S.A.

3 ¼” (8.3 cm) long x 1 ¾” (4.4 cm) wide x 3 1/8” (7.9 cm) tall. Weighs 6.8 oz (195 g)

There are no cracks, chips, or breaks. The edge of the napkin ring has a small dent, and there are a few nicks and wear from use. There is one small spot on the bevel of the base where the silver has scraped off and the underlying metal is visible. Otherwise, the piece has shined up nicely and still has a fair amount of silver left.

A fun napkin ring to add to a collection or use. It’s a real little gem.