Ball, Black & Co. was the leading American retail jewelry house of the 19th Century.  In 1860, they induced John Rudolph Wendt, formerly of the Boston partnership of Rogers & Wendt, to establish himself in New York City. This was perfect union since Wendt was one of the leading producers of quality silverware.*  Occupying the top two floors of the firm’s new building at 565-567 Broadway, Wendt’s silverware manufactory supplied large amounts of the solid silver goods to Ball, Black & Co.’s main retail floor below.  Knowledge of the firm’s practice of initial marks and of their special relationship with Wendt would attribute this particular stand to Wendt.

Fruit Stand Date:  circa 1867.  This stand dates from before 1874, since Ball, Black & Co. change the style of their firm to Black, Starr & Frost in that year.  Further, it is recognized that the firm was selling silverware stamped ENGLISH STERLING  in the late 1860’s and in the early 1870’s.  It is also well known that this type of Egyptian revival style had but a brief period of popularity, being introduced about 1866 and falling from favor by the early 1870’s.