Object number
2019/51
Exhibition
Creator
Description
This silver salver was presented to the donor upon his retirement from the Calcutta offices of Sutton & Sons Ltd. in 1972. The donor was the managing director of the calcutta offices between 1957 and 1972. The salver is circular in shape, with frilled edging. It is inscribed in the centre with the donor's name, stating the item to be 'in appreciation of his valuable services from the directors of Sutton & Sons (India) Pvt. Ltd.'. it is dated 1972. A salver is a flat tray, often made of silver although examples made of glass do exist. They were oftenused for carrying glasses, cups, or letters, although commemorative examples such as this were also common.
Physical description
1 Salver: Silver; Good condition
Label Text
<DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>?<SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri",sans-serif; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin'>From local to global // In the nineteenth century, Reading was home to several major industries. Suttons Seeds grew from a local shop into a global firm. In 1912 they established a Calcutta branch, from which they developed and grew seed for the UK and Indian markets. // Indian independence came in 1947 but colonial structures persisted. The last British Managing Director of the Calcutta branch was given this sign and silver salver when he retired in 1972. // Suttons and Sons (India) broke away from the parent company. It still trades out of Kolkata today. // <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">MERL 2019/50-/51, 2007/28, 81/162</I></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV><DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin"><FONT face=Calibri>Ron [Butler]’s career with Sutton’s Seeds saw him travel to many different parts of the world. The company’s reach is shown by tins for products ‘in use throughout the world’ and the globe in the logo. // One office was based in India. This sign was given to the Museum by a colleague of Ron’s called John Hodges, who managed the Calcutta branch. It is shown alongside a silver salver presented to John when he retired in 1972. In a recent interview for the Museum, Ron spoke about these objects and about the international work that he did. // <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">MERL 2019/50-/51, 2007/28, 81/162</I></FONT><O:P></O:P></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV>
Archival history
Museum Object Entry Form – '[...] FORM No.: 501 // DESCRIPTION OF OBJECT/COLLECTION // 1 X BRASS PLAQUE FROM THE INDIAN BRANCH OF SUTTON & SONS, CALCUTTA. WRITTEN IN ENGLISH, BENGALI, AND HINDI. ACQUIRED BY JOHN HODGES, MANAGING DIRECTOR. // 1 X SILVER SALVER. RETIREMENT GIFT GIVEN TO [donor] IN 1972 WHEN HE RETIRED FROM INDIA. 10" DIAMETER. INDIAN SILVER. // REASON FOR ENTRY: Gift // Date: 21 . 11 . 2018., Miscellaneous note – 'Brass plaque // Sign huge on wall outside office in Calcutta // Said: Sutton & Son Seeds // Indian Branch // repeated in Bengali // repeated in Hindi // Silver salver // 10" diameter. Retirement gift 1972 // Made of Indian silver // [verso] // [donor name] // went to // India - 1957 // He became managing director. Replaced by local Indian // renamed // Company - Ruby 1969 // Sign removed from outside premises // retired from India 1972 // He kept sign as souvenir // Address [...] // Size 16" x 24" as framed // Good condition., Letter, Madeleine Ding to Donor, 12 November 2018 – 'I am writing to let you know that we have received the brass plaque and silver salver delivered by your fried. Thank you very much for giving them to the museum. They will complement the Sutton Seeds articles and memorabilia we have from Reading. We would be interested in any photographs of the office or documents from your time in India working for Suttons & Sons Ltd. // Please find enclosed a 'Museum Object Entry Form' for you to sign. This form transfers ownership of the objects from you to the Museum. Please could you check the description I have written, making any corrections if necessary, and add any further information you may have on a seperate sheet of paper. I would be grateful if you could then sign and date the form in the two places I have indicated with an asterisk. // Please keep the signed and dated pink (middle) copy for yourself and send the signed and dated white (top) and blue (bottom) copies back to the Museum, along with any additional information, in the enclosed stamped addressed envelope. // Yours sincerely, // Madeleine Ding // Collections Officer.', Miscellaneous note – 'from [donor] for Suttons collections. // Delivered by [...]', MERL miscellaneous note – 'Ollie, This man was Managing Director of Indian Company for Suttons Seeds. // He is offering us a brass plaque from offices. // Needs to know befor end of Friday. // Adam. [verso] outside of office // Sutton & son // Seeds // Indian Branch // - bengiali // - hindi', Reading Room Phone Enquiries - 'Name of enquirer: [...] // Details of enquiry: Calcutta RUBY comp. 1969 // - Sun morning - // Managing Dir. // Indian Company // OLD BRASS PLAQUE // 3ft // 16" wide // Contact details: [...] // [verso] // retired from India. 1972 // Silver salva - 10" diameter // inscribed presented by ='
Production place
Calcutta
Production date
1972 - 1972
Object name
Material
Dimensions
- Width 300 mm
- Height 300 mm
Associated subject
Associated person/institution
Associated period