Dear Helaine and Joe:
Enclosed please find pictures of a pewter tray. It is 26-1/2 inches long and 12 inches wide. The fish and seaweed are raised. It is marked "Orivit" along with what looks like a bird. There are other marks that are hard to read plus the number 2655. I have found some information on Orivit, but have been unable to find anything on this tray. Can you give me any information?
Thank you,
J.B.C., Colebrook, N.H.
Dear J.B.C.:
This is certainly a lovely piece, but we would refer to it as being a fish platter rather than a "tray." It was designed to hold a whole fish when it was being served as the fish course during an elaborate dinner party.
These are most commonly seen in porcelain, but metal examples can be found. The porcelain fish sets usually had a matching sauce boat and individual plates. Originally, the piece in today's question may have had a sauce boat and matching individual plates as well.
"Orivit" is really the name of a special kind of metal alloy that consists of approximately 89.5 percent pewter (tin), 7.9 percent antimony, 1.9 percent copper and 0.12 percent silver. The company Orivit-AG was founded in 1894 as "Rheinische Broncegieserei fur Kleinplastiken" by Wilhelm Ferdinand Hubert Schmitz in Koln-Ehrenfeld, Germany (most American would say Cologne, Germany).
In 1900, the firm name changed, but it was still Orivit-Ag -- followed by a string of incomprehensible (at least to English speakers) words that will have no meaning whatsoever to us and most of those reading this. Orivit-AG was famous for its pieces in the Art Nouveau style and won a gold prize at the 1900 Paris Exhibition, plus two Grand Prix and a gold medal at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1900.
Unfortunately, the company went into a total financial meltdown in 1905 and was acquired by the famous WMF (Wurttembergische Metalwaren Fabrik). WMF continued to produce wares marked "Orivit" from 1905 to 1914. The bird that J.B.C. mentioned is probably an ostrich, which is often found as part of the WMF marks.
Orivit is famous for the metal mountings it made for art glass and pottery. Occasionally, pieces made by such companies as Loetz can be found with an Orivit signature on the metal areas. These metal-mounted glass pieces are among the most valuable items associated with Orivit, but its items with extravagant Art Nouveau designs are also in great demand -- particularly in Europe.
Some of the more desired Orivit forms are stylish table mirrors, candelabra and centerpieces with glass liners. We believe that the fish platter was made in the 1905-to-1914 time frame. It should be mentioned that the company also made platters with images of such animals as stags -- to be used for the game course -- and lobsters.
J.B.C.'s platter is style number 2655, and it is charming with the beautifully detailed fish. The other marking on this piece may refer to its designer, but we cannot tell for sure without seeing the object.
As for value, this piece is more valuable across the Atlantic, but the platter should have an insurance replacement value of between $500 and $700 or a bit less in this country.
(Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson are the authors of "Price It Yourself" (HarperResource, $19.95). Contact them at Treasures in Your Attic, PO Box 27540, Knoxville, TN 37927. E-mail them at treasures(at)knology.net.)
TREASURES IN YOUR ATTIC
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