Historical Cook and Serve Ware From Wilton Armetale

Wilton was the founder and Armetale was a newTraditional, Grand, Classic, etc. environments.
metal developed by Wilton Brass Company in 1963.Users trying to recreate their favorite environments
The name Armetale was coined to signify "art" andfound these products ideal to recreate an authentic
"metal". The new material had the look of pewterambience as far as cook and serve ware were
and silver, and also met the food serviceconcerned. And the products achieved great
requirements of US Food & Drug Administration.popularity.
The Wilton Company used the material to developThe environments to which Wilton Armetale catered
cook and serve ware that had more than justwere varied. There is the 12 Days of Christmas
utilitarian significance. The products were designed toseries for a holiday environment, a Classical series
be suitable for use in different environments -based on the decorative designs used by ancient
traditional, country, classic, contemporary, eclectic,Greeks, ACOMA series using the repeated geometric
American colonial, etc.patterns found on the pottery of New Mexican
For example the 1840 Tea Service is a replica of anPueblo Indian tribe and an Acorn Chip & Dip inspired
American pewter coffee pot made in 1840. The potsby the acorn from nature.
feature a hexagonal spout and have curved handlesMany of the themes were related to Americana,
with a decorative thumb rest. The set comes withbased on uniquely American sources. The MAFA
matching creamer and sugar server, and is suitablecollection was inspired by Museum of American Folk
for use in a traditional or country environment.Art, the Beat Up Mug was an authentic reproduction
Another sample of the Wilton Armetale approach isof an early American antique pewter mug to create
exemplified by the African series. The products ina rustic American Country home environment.
these series included pitchers, trivets, bowls,Wilton Armetale also participated in commemorating
casseroles, chip & dip servers, trays and wine bottlethe American Bicentennial in 1976 with two
coasters with rim designs derived from tribal artreproductions of Revolutionary period pieces, with
displayed on canoes, houses, fabrics shields and otherBicentennial Seal of Approval marked on them.
objects in the African countries of Chad, Kenya, Mali,Another example of the Wilton Armetale approach
Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.was the acquisition of the Bruce Fox collection of
The African series was launched under a licensingover 100 pieces of sculpted and decorative serving
program with CARE, the international relief agency.pieces. The collection was acquired from the family
The agency was working in the above-mentionedof Bruce Fox (1902-1960), who had studied the
countries at that time.intricate skills of ethnic communities working with
Wilton Armetale was developed from anmetals.
aluminum-based alloy and the material was suitableThe overall impression of Wilton Armetale is of a
for creating antique and other kinds of looks. Thecompany enamored of tradition that is also capable
Wilton Armetale Art and Pattern Departmentsof modern innovation.
worked to create different designs in Art Noveau,