An American Silver, 18 Karat Gold, and Hardstone Dinner Service, Hans Brassler and Eleder-Hickok Co., Newark, New Jersey, 1928-1936

Part of the service commissioned by Lawrence P. Fisher in 1928, completed in 1936, and costing $266,000.

From its beginnings as a horse carriage shop in Norwalk, Ohio, the Fisher brothers' factory grew to become Detroit's largest supplier of automobile interiors, with the ubiquitous "Body by Fisher" and carriage logo appearing on every GM car door. As befitting captains of the American automobile industry in the 1920s and 30's, the seven Fisher brothers lived grandly, building lavish residences in Detroit, mooring yachts on Lake St. Clair and maintaining an east-coast footing with an apartment in New York. They were civic leaders in Detroit, financing the 1928 Art Deco skyscraper the Fisher Building and the Fisher Theater and supporting the University of Detroit. They were generous donors to the Catholic church and built Detroit's largest residence for the head of the Catholic diocese.

The Fishers also commissioned one of the largest American-made silver dinner services. According to Trosby Gallery, who sold the service in 1971, the silver was ordered by Lawrence P. Fisher (1881-1961) in 1928 and completed in 1936 at the astonishing cost of $266,000.

This extensive service would have represented a tremendous commission for Hans Brassler and the Eleder-Hickok Co., both of Newark. Hans Brassler (d. 1962) trained at the Académie Julian in Paris and was recruited by Tiffany & Co. He later established his own jewelry firm, which was known for the originality of its designs. According to Brassler's grandson, Jay Kane, Brassler came to know the Fisher Brothers through designs for their Catholic charitable works.

The Eleder-Hickok firm is known for work of very high quality, and produced many important American 20th-century trophies. Related silver made by Eleder-Hickok for the Fisher family includes a gold coffee service and tray, sold Christie's New York, 22-23 January 1993, lot 136, and a silver centerpiece sold Christie's New York, 21 June 1995, lot 25. These pieces were from the collection of William Andrew Fisher (1886-1969) of Palmer Woods, Detroit.

A scrapbook belonging to the Hickok-Matthews Co. (Eleder-Hickok's successor) contains a Detroit Free Press clipping from 6 January 1936 celebrating the birthday of Margaret Fisher, matriarch of the ten Fisher children. This evidence suggests that this monumental service may have been presented on Mrs. Fisher's birthday.

Part of the service was acquired by Mrs. Vectra Barnett and Mr. William B. Orkin from Trosby Galleries in 1971 and later sold Christie's New York, January 20, 2011, lot 13. William B. Orkin was the son of the Otto Orkin, founder of Orkin Exterminating Company, established in 1901.