How Do You Identify Wm Rogers Flatware Patterns?
Wm Rogers flatware is American silver-plate, identifiable by the marks on the underside of handles and the patterns of the handles, bowls and forks. The company name is confusing because there were numerous Rogers silver and silver-plate manufacturers in New England and the Mid-Atlantic states during the late 19th and early 20th centuries; mergers, buyouts and inheritances created even more. However, the patterns for each factory are distinctive and reveal the maker and the age of a piece.
Sterling is nearly solid silver and holds its value over decades and centuries. Silver-plate has a low resale value but is worth more when it is in excellent condition and is a rare or sought-after pattern.
Wm Rogers silver-plate patterns ranged from the sleek and spare elegance of 1915’s Lufberry and 1942’s Hostess to the ornate explosion of botanical forms on the handles of 1908’s Lily and 1965’s Beverly Manor.
Look for the maker’s mark, a stamped eagle and star flanking the name Wm Rogers on the back of a handle. Then find a pattern by checking the photographs on online reseller sites such as CopperLamp.com or SterlingFlatwareFashions.com. Send a clear photograph, or a rubbing of the design made on white tissue with a lead pencil, to a jeweler or antique vendor who deals in silverware.
