I DID NOT EVEN TRY TO POLISH THIS COVERED SUGAR BOWL, SOME COLLECTORS LIKE THE PATINA OF AGE, SO I'VE BEEN TOLD??? THE BOWL HAS A DOMED LID WITH A SWAN WITH OUTSTRETCHED WINGS AT THE TOP---THERE IS AN OPEN GREEK KEY PATTERN AROUND THE LIP OF THE BOTTOM, AND THERE ARE FOUR PIERCED- WORK FEET. ETCHED AROUND THE LID IS A FLORAL, AND SWIRL PATTERN. OTHER THAN THE LEGS AND LIP, THE BOTTOM IS NOT ENGRAVED. NOW, COMES THE QUESTION----HOW DID THE BOTTOM OF A SUGAR BOWL NEED MENDING??? AND WHY, UNLESS THEY WERE VERY MATERIALISTIC DID MY GRANDPARENTS MEND IT??? OR WAS IT A TREASURED ITEM THEY COULD NOT BEAR TO PART WITH. THE SUGAR BOWL IS HALLMARKED "ROGERS, SMITH & CO., NEW HAVEN, CONN" AND THE NUMBER "4800". THE PIECE IS QUITE HEAVY, AND OTHER THAN THE BOTTOM BEING SOLDERED, IT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. NOW IT CAN SIT IN REGAL SPLENDOR IN YOUR CHINA CABINET (AS IT HAS DONE IN MY HOME), OR YOU CAN USE IT AND NO ONE WILL KNOW IT HAS BEEN MENDED IF YOU KEEP IT FULL OF SUGAR :-) THE BOTTOM IS 5-3/4" ACROSS THE OPENING, AND THE WHOLE THING IS 6" TALL TO THE TOP OF THE SWAN. THIS PARTICULAR HALLMARK WAS USED FROM 1857 TO 1898, WHEN INTERNATIONAL SILVER BOUGHT THEM OUT. THEY WERE ORIGINALLY LOCATED IN HARTFORD, AND MOVED TO NEW HAVEN IN 1863. MY KOVELS' PRICE GUIDE SHOWS COVERED SUGAR BOWLS FROM THIS ERA GOING FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS BUT I HAVE PRICED THIS ONE TO REFLECT THE REPAIRED DAMAGE. I WOULD SERIOUSLY RECOMMEND INSURANCE ON THIS ITEM SINCE I DOUBT THERE ARE VERY MANY OF THESE LEFT OUT THERE FOR SALE.
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