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Antique American Belleek Bowl with Sterling Silver Overlay
CAC Trenton (Ceramic Art Company of Trenton, New Jersey)
1889-1906
A genuinely beautiful turn-of-the-century American Belleek bowl, dressed in applied sterling silver overlay and hand-painted decoration. The porcelain is the warm ivory, eggshell-thin Belleek body that made the Trenton potteries famous, and it rings with a deep, clear tone when tapped.
The sterling overlay runs in a continuous band below the rim: swagged garlands, slender urns, delicate scrolls and drop finials in the neoclassical taste, all applied in silver directly onto the porcelain and finished with a full sterling band around the lip. Between the garlands sit oval cartouches, and this is where the bowl becomes special. Some hold hand-painted panels of pink roses on a soft blue ground, painted with real delicacy. One cartouche holds a finely engraved script monogram.
The whole design has the restrained elegance of the Edwardian period, when silver overlay on American Belleek was at its height as a luxury gift for weddings and anniversaries.
MARKS
The base carries the green palette and brush mark with the intertwined CAC monogram and BELLEEK beneath, along with the impressed shape number 527.
This palette mark was used by the Ceramic Art Company of Trenton, New Jersey from 1889 until February 1906, when the firm was renamed Lenox Incorporated. It therefore predates any piece marked Lenox. The green palette mark generally indicates porcelain sold as undecorated whiteware to be finished outside the factory, which is precisely how silver overlay pieces were produced: the Trenton blanks went out to silver houses and decorating studios who applied the sterling and the painting. Collectors know these as American Belleek, and the early CAC mark is the one they look for.
Please note: 's Time Period field offers only fixed date ranges, so the selection shown may not exactly match the 1889 to 1906 mark period described above.
SIZE
9 1/2 inches across the interior rim
4 inches high
4 inch diameter foot
CONDITION
Beautiful antique condition. No chips, no cracks, no repairs. The sterling overlay is tight to the porcelain throughout with no lifting, loosening or loss anywhere, which is uncommon on pieces of this age and is worth emphasizing. The hand-painted rose panels are bright and unworn. The silver shows a soft antique patina, as expected, and can be gently polished if a buyer prefers a brighter finish. The porcelain is clean with no crazing or staining, and the bowl rings with a wonderful deep tone when tapped.
Please note: color of the item may vary slightly from the photos due to different monitor displays, lighting conditions, and camera settings. We do our best to accurately capture and describe the true color of every item.
Please review all photos closely, as they form an important part of the condition report. Additional photos are available on request, and we are happy to answer any questions before you buy.
Hand wash only. Never place silver overlay porcelain in a dishwasher or microwave.
ABOUT THIS SELLER
Welcome to Times Gone By!
We are Terry and Sue, a husband and wife team who have spent many years collecting vintage treasures and antiquities we truly love. Now retired, we are gradually downsizing our collection and sharing pieces with new homes. Some items listed are sourced for resale, while others come directly from our own personal collection built over the years. Every item is inspected closely and photographed in detail so you can shop with confidence. We describe condition as accurately and honestly as possible, including any flaws, so there are no surprises when your item arrives. All items ship within 1–2 business days of payment, carefully packed to ensure safe arrival. We welcome questions before you buy, and we stand behind every item we sell. Thank you for taking the time to visit our shop and for supporting a small, retired collector-run business. We hope you find something as special as it was to us. We would never intentionally misrepresent anything and try to describe all items to the best of my ability. Most of what we offer is used, vintage or antique and their condition will reflect that. Potential buyers should do their own research and use their own expertise before purchasing.
Thank you for looking! 😊✌
