Wallace Flatware

Wallace Silversmiths Co. is one of America's oldest and most fabled producers of flatware. Robert Wallace founded the company in the early 19th century after an apprenticeship under the renowned spoonmaker Meriden Britannica Co. He purchased a rickety gristmill and began creating spoons exclusively, as this was his area of expertise.

One of the major early innovations for Wallace Silversmiths Co. happened while Robert was shopping in New York City and discovered a cutlery set by Dixon & Sons forged from a nickel alloy called German Silver. Wallace was greatly impressed by the luster and strength of the material and proceeded to buy the formula from the German chemist Dr. Louis Feuchtwanger for the then-enormous sum of $20.

With this new patent, Robert Wallace compounded the first German silver made in America. It would go on to enjoy great popularity throughout the United States. By the time Robert Wallace died in 1892, passing the company on to his sons, Wallace Silversmiths Co. had grown into the largest manufacturer of flatware in the world. As it was in the 19th century, Wallace flatware continues to be prized for its first-rate craftsmanship and excellent design.

Quick Facts

• In 2011, Sotheby’s sold a Wallace Silversmiths Flatware service for $5,000
• By the start of the 20th century, Wallace Silversmiths products were so popular that the factory used more than 1.5 tons of nickel silver each day
• Sir Christopher, Rose Point, and Grand Baroque are three of Wallace’s most celebrated patterns of flatware