The 1940
Colonial Williamsburg
Sterling silver Catalog
In 1939 Stieff was chosen by Colonial Williamsburg to create reproductions and adaptations of colonial silver. The first pieces were produced in 1940 and this rather formal catalog with a cord binding was produced.
Shortly thereafter, WWII would cause Stieff to curtail major silver production until the end of the war. Only a few patterns were made during the war, and the Williamsburg pieces were not amongst those made during the war.
This 1940 Catalog is from my personal collection of Stieff History
The catalog right side has a “ragged” edge and the
catalog is bound with cord to present a formal
introduction to the new line of
Stieff Williamsburg Sterling Silver
Two blank sheets follow the front cover, but are not shown here.
Page One
This is dated July 1940.
Note that at this point the CW mark does not have the familiar oval around it yet.
In the following pages Stieff gives the history of Williamsburg and the importance of the restoration work being conducted at Colonial Williamsburg.
In this catalog the history of Raleigh Tavern is given, and references to the great American heros that had eaten and been entertained there. When these patterns were first introduced by Stieff they would be called RALEIGH TAVERN and you will note below the letters RT are in front of each item number.
While in its day the Raleigh Tavern was one of the great dining hall and entertainment centers in the colonies... several centuries later the term tavern was more likely to mean “beer hall” or bar.
The question that comes to my mind.. did Mrs America in 1940 really want to buy sterling silver
with a name association of a TAVERN? My guess is that STIEFF and Colonial Williamsburg would later come to this understanding as the name would later be changed to QUEEN ANNE which
would be much more pleasing to Mrs. America and her daughters.
The inside back cover and the back cover of the catalog are plain.
The corded binding tassels are shown on the photo to the right.
Below is the original price list for the silver shown in the 1940 catalog. This single page was tucked into the last page of the catalog
The bottom edge of this price list is ragged and is representative of a formal invitation of the day.
This 1940 Williamsburg Catalog is from my personal collection.
