Overview
This is a charming two-piece child's feeding set consisting of a deep bowl and a wide-rimmed underplate, both crafted in silver plate. The set features a whimsical, deeply embossed 'Hey Diddle Diddle' nursery rhyme theme, complete with a running alphabet border on the plate's rim to encourage early literacy during mealtime.
Story
Introduced in the early 20th century, these sets turned daily meals into interactive storytime. The alphabet rim and nursery rhyme illustrations were designed to distract and educate restless toddlers at the dinner table.
Maker / Origin
William A. Rogers was a highly successful pioneer in the American silver-plating industry, starting his enterprise in the late 19th century. His brand became so synonymous with quality, everyday tableware that it was eventually absorbed by the giant Oneida Silversmiths consortium, which continued to produce these beloved children's designs for decades.
Condition & Value
The set shows heavy, dark tarnish and surface scratching consistent with age and actual use by a child. There are no major dents visible, but the silver plate may have thin spots or wear-through under the tarnish, particularly on the high-contact interior of the bowl.