Rogers, Smith and Company Silver Antiques?

My dad has this antique silver dish that was passed down to him from his parents. We originally thought it was a fruit bowl, but we've seen lots of pictures of things that look similar but they're called "bride's baskets". It's got lots of birds and flowers on it and it's got a little handle. On the bottom it says "Rogers, Smith %26amp; Co. New Haven Conn. 1794". "New Haven" is surrounded in a circular pattern by the other information except for the number which is in larger print underneath it. We assumed that 1794 was the date, but we read a little about Rogers, Smith %26amp; Co. here on Answers and they said the company was founded in the mid 1800s. Does this mean the number is the number it was made? (As in this is bowl number 1794?) Can anyone help? (Sorry there aren't any pictures, but our digital camera is broken and we couldn't find anything like what we have already online.) Thanks!

Rogers, Smith and Company Silver Antiques?
I could not find your particular dish, but I think that you will find this information usefull, at least I hope so.

Here is what I have found.

The 1794 was a mark that they used. I have not found it yet but the No. 1377. This mark was used 1862 - 1877.



1862 Rogers, Smith %26amp; Co. of New Haven, Conn., organized to manufacture silver-plated holloware. The company was sold in 1863 to Meriden Britannia Co., but the New Haven operation continued to 1877.

(SFC, 11/29/06, p.G3) onsite below;

http://timelines.ws/states/CONNECTICUT.H...

Read some important data on this next site;

http://www.phelpsinc.com/family/phelpsfa...

Antiques: Silver and its imitations;

http://www.basic-antiques.com/silver-imi...

http://findingaid.winterthur.org/html/HT...

The Online Encyclopedia of American Silver Marks;

http://www.silvercollecting.com/silverma...

Found historical data/ reciepts dating back to your piece.

http://www.oldandsold.com/articles/artic...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Si...

Rogers Smith %26amp; Co New Haven Conn. 1808 Design Patented April, 26 1859.on this next site;

http://search.rubylane.com/antiques/,id=...

http://www.rubylane.com/shops/seniormovi...

Animal Motif, Rogers,Smith %26amp; Co. Soup Tureen;

http://www.tias.com/707/PictPage/1921127...

Many more links; http://ca.search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF...

When you can and when your camera is fixed and if asked to submit a photographgo to http://photobucket.com/ or http://photobucket.com/ for free, and Up load and post the photographs of your silver dish to one of the reputable appraisers.

Antiques Roadshow on line appraisers on links below;

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/roadshow/....

http://www.canadianantiquesroadshow.com/...

http://www3.sympatico.ca/appraisers/.......

Famous Appraisers for Rare Collectibles and Fine Art below;

http://www.christies.com/home_page/home_... on line appraiser available free of charge.

http://www.sothebys.com/

http://www.isa-appraisers.org/

http://ca.search.yahoo.com/bin/search?fr...

I hope that this has helped you and your family get some answers.