Description:
Circular aluminum tray with all-over hammered surface and three indents in the border, which is stamped "TURNIP YARD" with a conjoined "MW" in center of mark over "DEERFIELD MASS" over the word "ARGENTAL" on the underside of the dish. According to Suzanne Flynt, Curator of the Memorial Hall Museum, Richard Wilby and Gordon Johnston ran the Turnip Yard in Deerfield from around 1946-1952, making a line of alumnium and ceramic wares including jam pots and cassseroles. Although the first ceramic pieces were made in Deerfield, the costs were too high and the company soon began to purchase their stoneware dishes from outside Boston. In 1952, Richard Wilby sold his share of the company to Johnston. The Memorial Hall Museum in Deerfield, MA, has casserole, marmalade jars, and small vessels with aluminum covers and/or under plates, as well as enameled copper ash trays and bowls by Turnip Yard. PVMA Library also has an undated magazine advertisement for "Three Items Combining Colorful, Handmade Pottery with Handwrought 'Argental'" (covered baker and tray, marmalade set, and jam jar) sold through "M. Wille - Art Goods, 225 Fifth Avenue, New York 10, New York." The word "Argental" was used by several firms making artistic aluminum lines and is a combination of "argent' - the French word for silver, and "Al" - the periodic symbol for aluminum.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2012.8.2 |
