It's not silver, at least I don't think it is ....

It's a Saks Fifth Avenue liquid pitcher. I have no idea WHO made the pitcher for Saks, or WHEN it was made. There again, I've searched endlessly on the internet but turned up NOTHING remotely similar. I'm sorry about the quality of the pictures, I have an illness that makes me "twitch" and "tremor" so it's rare that I can get a good shot from my phone camera. My digital is charging right now so this is the best I can do.

It's 18" tall and I think or am assuming, it's nickel (coin silver) because there are no hallmarks, just the store's ID mark. It's a nice "colonial" design with an ice guard on the spout. If I can't find more info on it I'll probably wind up keeping it; and I'd rather not. I don't need another pitcher, I have plenty of pewter pitchers that I collect. So any input from anyone would help me greatly. Thanks a bunch.

 

Nickel silver and coin silver have no relation

 

If it has never needed polishing (looks quite shiny now) it "might" be silverplated with that "no tarnish" coating, then again, could be chrome. I would doubt it is "nickel silver" because even that will darken over time and need to be "polished." (You didn't really mean "coin" silver, did you?)

One of my grandmothers loved to buy things at B. Altman (silverplated service pieces included.) They were never marked with the real maker, just the store name.

 

(B. Altman...)

 

One of DH's aunts worked at B. Altman in Short Hills for many years but long ago.

 

The provision of an ice guard means it post dates domestic refrigeration, hence fairly modern.

 

OMGosh Terry, I knew that and typed it wrong. I know the difference, I should have said, nickel, nickel silver OR coin silver. I sell a lot of coin silver flatware, candlestick holders, etc. I'll re-read before I post from now on, or I'll try to at least. Thanks for the distinction.

 

That's kind of what I thought. I am assuming it's from about 1950 to date. Dating it will help me find out more about it, I hope. But I'm stumped at what company or artist would make this with the Saks Fifth Avenue mark or label. So many do that sort of thing. And usually if it's plated, it's marked "silver over copper" or Silver plated, or Sterling plated. At least the gilt things that I've had in the past have all said that. That's why I'm assuming it's nickel or even coin silver. It could be chrome for all I know, even stainless steel. I've never put it in the dishwasher.

I really want to clarify that I'm not looking for a free appraisal, I believe this group is not intended for that sort of thing. I'm trying to find out who made it if anyone else has something similar, and possibly when it could have been made. I also checked with Saks and got nowhere. I needed more information for them to "look it up." Well duh? That's why I contacted them to see if they had the information. Even the style name of the pitcher would be helpful.
Thanks for the info.

 

I've polished this pitcher. It was tarnished when I bought it. And I figured artists would use coin silver for a company like Saks. I've had coin silver flatware before. Oh wait, I think I shared that info already, sorry.

 

The company name did not become "Saks Fifth Avenue" until the 20th century, long after the use of "coin" silver died out and was replaced by the sterling standard, thanks to US discoveries of silver ore in abundance.

 

I looked at what Saks is offering now, which isn't much.
I would vote highly polished stainless steel.
Saks would have contracted with a company to make it and put the store name on it.

I think it is later than the 1950s. I would put it more in the 1970s-80s era.

 

Made by some men in a shed somewhere.......................

 

This one claims to be Reed and Barton. The base is smaller but the handle looks to be identical:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Reed-Barton...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

There's another (ended) listing also that seems to be the same as the one in this link.

 

Thank you, I didn't know this. I'm pretty sure it's not stainless, it was really tarnished when I got it. Got out the lemon juice and my Mr.Clean Magic Eraser and it polished up with no problem.

 

OMGosh, that's it. I thought it might be plated, but it's nice to know the style name and possibly who made it for Saks Fifth Avenue. Thanks a bunch Wenna.