I promised you more...

Well, it's here! It's on display and today, I'm including it in my blog.  The exquisite USS North Carolina silver has been received and placed in our Showroom Museum.  This stunning array of sterling silver was commissioned on August 15, 1907 by the North Carolina General Assembly to be used on board the armored cruiser.  The vast number of pieces included in the collection were produced by Dominick and Haff.  This company was later purchased by Reed and Barton. 

There are so many unique attributes to this amazing collection.  First, there is the amazing North Carolina State Seal.  The seal or "Great Seal," as it often called features two women - the Lady of Liberty and the Lady of Plenty.  The background of the seal shows mountains on the left and ocean on the right.  This represents the great Smokey Mountains in the western part of North Carolina and the Atlantic Ocean that borders the eastern part of the state.

A unique rope border accents each amazing piece.  Ropes figure prominently in nautical symbolism.  The Navy seal also appears on many pieces.  This seal features one of the great icons of the USA, the bald eagle.  Also displayed is an anchor and a ship. 

Many of the feet that were designed for this service are dolphins.  Dolphins have always been "great helpers" of the sea.  The dolphin design is the one that is featured more prominently in tableware design; the one that is often seen in Wedgwood designs.

I think my absolute favorite attribute of this collection is finial design.  The finials are great bald eagles - one of the most enduring symbols of American freedom and democracy.  The Continental Congress adopted the bald eagle as the National Bird on June 20, 1782.  This American bird is most often pictured holding an olive branch and a arrows.

The USS North Carolina silver will be on display in our showroom museum for the next year.  I encourage you to take the time to come and visit us.  We would love to have you here.  As a reminder, the Showroom is open from 9:00am to 7:00pm ET, 7 days a week; free tours are available from 9:30am to 6:00pm ET, 7 days a week. The Showroom and Museum are conveniently located between Greensboro and Burlington, NC, at exit 132 off Interstate 85/40.