Product Description
Whiting American Sterling Koi Theme “Japonisme” Serving Bowl and Servers c.1880
WHITING MANUFACTURING CO. North Attleboro, MA
“Koi” serving bowl with matching servers c. 1880
Sterling silver serving bowl and matching servers with applications of Koi fish behind nets, gilt interior
Marks: on base: lion with W in oval (manufacturer’s insignia), STERLING, 2124A, J.E. CALDWELL & CO. (retailer)
H: 4 3/8″ x Dia: 9 3/4″
In 1840 Albert Tifft and William Whiting started their business in North Attleboro, MA as a jewelry manufacturing company and then in 1866 created the Whiting Mfg. Co. and expanded production into small holloware as well. The Gorham Company bought Whiting in 1926 and all operations were then moved to Providence, R.I.
Whiting American Sterling Koi Theme “Japonisme” Serving Bowl and Servers c.1880
LINDA LEE JOHNSON (1944-2018) Washington, DC
Sculpted silver bowl “Vessel XII” c. 2004
Irregular organic shaped lost wax cast silver bowl with an irregular shaped top and one pierced hole (3/4 inch). Approx. silver weight is 80 troy ounces.
Marks: Logo monogram, 5/20, initial monogram
H: 5 1/4″ x W: 8 1/2″ x D: 7 1/4″
At the age of three Linda Lee Johnson was given a handmade Native American bracelet from her father, a naval aviator, and subsequently another every time they crossed the country. By the time she was seven, she had seven bracelets which she never removed. She was an American field service exchange student to Greece in high school. It was here that she developed her love of theater, sculpture and ancient
jewelry. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in English literature and dramatic art and immediately began to study sculpture making.
She was a founding member of the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, and a professional actress for nineteen years with many major roles in New York city and regional theaters around the country and abroad.
She studied jewelry making in New York City 1984-88.
In 1986, she was asked to place her pieces in Tiffany & Co. in all major stores. At the same time she had many featured pieces of jewelry, small sculpture and functional objects in the Museum of Modern Art design store.
Barney’s New York began to represent her in l989, where her jewelry and limited edition decorative art work are still found today.
She lived in Washington DC and the Adirondack Mountains where she continued to craft and sculpt her jewelry and decorative works of art until her passing in 2018.