While the ribbed body shape is colloquially called the "Melon" pattern (or pumpkin shape), with a melon-form finial on a leaf base. The specific catalog identifier used by the F.B. Rogers Silver Company for this mid-century collection is simply pattern number 1224. White insulator rings indicate an older, higher-quality production run from the 1950s or early 1960s. Excellent used and clean condition both inside and out with minimal signs of wear. Beautiful even patina as is or you can polish to look like new again.
The 6 Core Pieces:
The Coffee Pot: The tallest vessel in the collection. It features an elongated, high-domed hinged lid and a long, sweeping gooseneck spout designed to pour from a height, which helps aerate the coffee.
The Teapot: A shorter, wider, and more bulbous vessel. It features a lower profile and a broader spout positioned lower on the body to allow loose tea leaves room to settle properly at the bottom.
The Lidded Sugar Bowl: A symmetrical, squat container equipped with two ornate matching "C-scroll" handles and a completely removable melon-ribbed lid topped with a decorative melon-form finial on a leaf base.
The Creamer Pitcher: A small, open-topped vessel featuring a single handle and an exaggerated, wide pouring lip to cleanly serve cream or milk without dripping.
The Butler's Serving Tray: A large 29 1/2” handle to handle, heavy oval tray featuring an intricately engraved flat surface (to hide scratches from the pots) and a raised, decorative rim matching the scrolled feet of the vessels.
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If Interested, Other Information:
About the Manufacturer:
Since your set bears an F.B. Rogers stamp rather than Leonard, it carries a slightly older and deeper historical legacy. This stamp confirms that your melon-style tea set was produced by the F.B. Rogers Silver Company.
The F.B. Rogers pattern number 1224 (the "Melon" or "Pumpkin" pattern) is a classic 5-piece silver-plated set modeled after English tea services from the 1830s.
Signature Design Elements
Lobled Paneling: Every vessel is segmented into vertical, puffy lobes that mimic the natural sections of a melon or pumpkin. This style maximizes surface area, allowing the silver to catch and reflect light brilliantly.
Ornate Cast Feet: The vessels do not sit flat on their bases. Instead, they are elevated by four heavily detailed, cast-metal feet featuring delicate leaf, scroll, or lion-paw motifs.
Heat Insulators: Look closely at the handles of the hot coffee and tea pots. These serve as thermal breaks to prevent heat from the boiling liquid from transferring into the handle. Those white insulator rings on your F.B. Rogers set are a fantastic and highly desirable detail!
The White Insulator Material: While most mid-century production lines shifted to cheap black plastic (bakelite or resin), white rings indicate an older, higher-quality production run from the 1950s or early 1960s.
The Material: Early Styrene or Melamine:
Instead of organic bone or ivory, your rings are made of a durable, high-density vintage synthetic material like styrene or melamine plastic.
Why They Used It: In the 1950s and 1960s, manufacturers shifted to these smooth composites because they were completely uniform, didn't crack like bone, and effectively blocked heat transfer.
The Good News: Smooth synthetic rings are much tougher than natural bone or ivory! They won't warp or split when exposed to moisture.
Market Value Check
F.B. Rogers sets are generally considered a step up in build weight and quality compared to standard Leonard sets.
The Timeline: The F.B. Rogers Silver Company was originally established in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, in 1883. They relocated their primary production foundries to Taunton, Massachusetts, in 1886.
The "1883" Confusion: Their stamped hallmark prominently features a crown, a shield, and the year "1883". "1883" is merely the trademarked founding date of the brand.
When It Was Actually Made: This heavy, Victorian-style "Melon" hollowware series was manufactured primarily between the 1950s and the late 1970s. The company was eventually bought out by the National Silver Company in 1955, and later absorbed into the larger International Silver Company structure, which kept producing their classic top-selling silhouettes.