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VASE
[Household Accessory]


Accession Number: 2016.1.2

Physical Description: Silver-plate presentation vase. Stemmed round base. Two handles. Flared mouth with open floral band. Face engraved with dedication. Nathan Schloss (1848-1917) was born in Syracuse, New York. He came to Leavenworth at the age of 17 and worked as a clerk in various mercantiles. In 1870 he married Fannie Rothenberg (1850-1912). In 1872 they moved to Ellsworth where he worked in the tobacco business. In 1874 he returned to Leavenworth where he and Fannie's brother Isaac Rothenberg (1846-1890) founded the tobacco distributorship Rothenberg & Schloss. In 1900 the families and the firm moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where, in 1912, Nathan and Fannie built a new home at the corner of Armour and the Paseo. It is uncertain what the vase commemorates or the significance of the inscribed dates. Schloss was seventeen years old on January 7, 1865 and sixty-seven in in 1915. He was active in the United Jewish Charities, serving as director for many years and contributing heavily to hospital funds. He was also Mason, a Shriner, and member of the Scottish Rite as well as an Elk. The Forbes Silver Company was founded in 1894 as a division of the Meriden Britannia Company. Its marks were used until about 1935.

History of Object: Nathan Schloss (1848-1917) was born in Syracuse, New York. He came to Leavenworth at the age of 17 and worked as a clerk in various mercantiles. In 1870 he married Fannie Rothenberg (1850-1912). In 1872 they moved to Ellsworth where he worked in the tobacco business. In 1874 he returned to Leavenworth where he and Fannie's brother Isaac Rothenberg (1846-1890) founded the tobacco distributorship Rothenberg & Schloss. Younger brother Alexander Rothenberg (1863-1928) also became a partner in 1887. In 1900 the families and the firm moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where, in 1912, Nathan and Fannie built a new home at the corner of Armour and the Paseo. It is uncertain what the vase commemorates or the significance of the inscribed dates. Schloss was seventeen years old on January 7, 1865 and sixty-seven in in 1915. He was active in the United Jewish Charities, serving as director for many years and contributing heavily to hospital funds. He was also Mason, a Shriner, and member of the Scottish Rite as well as an Elk. The Forbes Silver Company was founded in 1894 as a division of the Meriden Britannia Company. Its marks were used until about 1935.

Date: 1917

Dimensions (in cm): 28.00 (H) 22.50 (W) 14.10 (D)

Marks/Inscriptions: [inscription] Nathan / Schloss / January Seventh / 1865 1915 // [maker's mark] FORBES SILVER Co. / QUADRUPLE / 1063 //

Index Terms

Associations and Subjects

    Use, Place of: Kansas City (Mo.)
    Business / Organization: Meriden Britannia Company
    Origin, Place of: Meriden (Conn.)
    Individual: Schloss, Nathan, 1848-1917

Creators and Contributors

    Meriden Britannia Company

Status: Cataloged

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