Napkin Ring Set Used by Ethel L. Payne
date: label: Date
content: 20th century
notes: label: Caption
content: 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.
setName: label: See more items in
content: Anacostia Community Museum Collection
creditLine: label: Cite As
content: Ethel Lois Payne Collection, Anacostia Community Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Gift of Avis R. Johnson.
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: Anacostia Community Museum
identifier: label: Accession Number
content: 1991.0076.0013
objectType: label: Type
content: table setting
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: metal, plastic
label: Dimensions
content: 1 1/2 × 11/16 × 1 1/2 in. (3.8 × 1.7 × 3.8 cm) [napkin rings]
label: Dimensions
content: 2 3/16 × 1 15/16 × 1 15/16 in. (5.5 × 5 × 5 cm) [salt and pepper shakers]
label: Dimensions
content: 1 7/8 × 1 1/2 × 1 1/2 in. (4.7 × 3.8 × 3.8 cm) [toothpick holder]