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Object Timeline

-0001

1995

  • We acquired this object.

2015

2017

2025

  • You found it!

Butter Dish in the Shape of a Folded Napkin Butter Dish

This is a butter dish. It was manufactured by Simpson, Hall, Miller, & Co.. It is dated ca. 1880 and we acquired it in 1995. Its medium is silver plated, metal, gold. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.



These butter pats show how Japonism influenced even the most everyday wares.

It is credited Museum purchase from Decorative Arts Association Acquisition Fund.

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 0.9 × 7.5 × 7.5 cm (3/8 × 2 15/16 × 2 15/16 in.)

It has the following markings

On underside of dish: [1] “SIMPSON, HALL, MILLER & CO.” along the top edge of a circle with “QUADRUPLE / PLATE” in the center, impressed (manufacturer’s mark)

It is inscribed

Inscribed in the bowl of dish: [1] “TO” in script, incised

Cite this object as

Butter Dish in the Shape of a Folded Napkin Butter Dish; Manufactured by Simpson, Hall, Miller, & Co.; USA; silver plated, metal, gold; H x W x D: 0.9 × 7.5 × 7.5 cm (3/8 × 2 15/16 × 2 15/16 in.); Museum purchase from Decorative Arts Association Acquisition Fund; 1995-148-6

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Passion for the Exotic: Japonism.

This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-4.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18650221/ |title=Butter Dish in the Shape of a Folded Napkin Butter Dish |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=6 February 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>