Napkin Ring Set Used by Ethel L. Payne
Object Details
- Date
- 20th century
- Medium
- metal, plastic
- Dimensions
- 1 1/2 × 11/16 × 1 1/2 in. (3.8 × 1.7 × 3.8 cm) [napkin rings]
- 2 3/16 × 1 15/16 × 1 15/16 in. (5.5 × 5 × 5 cm) [salt and pepper shakers]
- 1 7/8 × 1 1/2 × 1 1/2 in. (4.7 × 3.8 × 3.8 cm) [toothpick holder]
- Cite As
- Ethel Lois Payne Collection, Anacostia Community Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Gift of Avis R. Johnson.
- Caption
- This set of dinner table accessories belonged to journalist Ethel L. Payne (1911-1991). The set includes eight napkin rings, a pair of salt and pepper shakers, and a toothpick holder. Malachite covers each lacquered piece, accented by cobalt enamel and mother-of-pearl inlay. Gold leaf lines the interiors. All sit in a satin-lined cardboard box. A Chicago native, Payne moved to Washington, DC in 1952 to cover national and international news. She reported from thirty countries over the course of her career, becoming known as the First Lady of the Black Press. While the set’s maker and country of origin are unknown, one can imagine it among the mementos that Payne collected on assignment.
- Accession Number
- 1991.0076.0013
- Type
- table setting
- See more items in
- Anacostia Community Museum Collection
- Data Source
- Anacostia Community Museum
- Restrictions & Rights
- CC0
- Metadata Usage
- CC0
- Record ID
- acm_1991.0076.0013