Rare Antique Baseball Napkin Ring Meriden No. 659 Silver Plate w Crossed Bats & Ball

This is a rare antique baseball napkin ring made by the Meriden Britannia Company, model No. 659, featuring a crossed-bat baseball motif with a laurel branch. The napkin ring has a beaded edge and rests on an oval platform with four ball feet. The underside is stamped “Made And Guaranteed By Meriden B Company” with the model number.

This piece dates to the 1880s–1890s, the peak period of Meriden’s ornamental figural napkin rings. Baseball-themed examples are extremely scarce and were produced in very limited numbers.

Condition: Silver plate has factory applied oxidation, which is original to the issuance of the piece. One side of the laurel wreath is missing, as the original design would have been symmetrical. Some minor surface marks and maybe light rust in the crevices of the laurel, very minor - aside from the missing part of the wreath, this is very well preserved.

Measurements: 3 3/4” in length, 3 1/4” in height at the bats, and 2 1/8” in width at the ball feet

A Meriden figural napkin ring with a very rare baseball sports theme - this napkin ring was issued when baseball was just gaining popularity, so probably few were made.  At least, not many have survived as I could not find any other existing examples.

Priced taking the damage to the wreath into account - this is a wonderful early baseball collectible or a nice addition to Victorian era sports related napkin rings!