Tray, Serving

Object number2016.68.8

Manufacturer Aluminum Company of America (1907 - 1998)

Date1978

MediumAluminum

Credit LineGift of Massena Aluminum Historical Association

DescriptionAluminum serving tray, with personalized inscription. Circular with twisted decoration around perimeter and sunken center section. Center section has engraved curvilinear and leaf designs with inscribed text at center commemorating wedding anniversary. Maker's mark on underside at bottom center.DimensionsDiameter x Depth: 18.875 × 1 in. (47.9 × 2.5 cm)
InscriptionsCenter section has engraved text at center "25th Anniversary / August 22, 1978 / Shirely and George".
MarksText on underside at bottom center "No 7823 / [Kensington logo] / Kensington".
Historical NotesKensington aluminum serving tray, No. 7823. Personalized to commemorate a couple's wedding anniversary. During Alcoa’s early years, when they were still the Pittsburgh Reduction Company, they not only produced aluminum, but because it was a new metal, they also manufactured it into useful products in order to create a market. Cookware was one of their first ventures and in 1901 they created The Aluminum Cooking Utensil Company in New Kensington. By 1903 they called the company “Wear-Ever”. The Kensington Ware line was introduced in 1934 as the decorative high-end line of aluminum giftware. The line was produced in New Kensington, PA and featured a large number of differing products from candlesticks to bowls to ashtrays to vases. These items helped to show new potential uses for aluminum and also demonstrated the metal’s beauty and durability.

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