Vintage Watson Sterling Silver Rimmed Platter with Cut Crystal Divided Bottom. Grain and floral patterns on crystal. Roped edge on ilver. Marked on the edge "Sterling" with hallmarks for the maker. The hallmarks (a crown, an ornate W, and a left-facing lion) indicate this was made by the Watson Company of Attleboro, Massachusetts some time between 1920 and 1955. 

Size: 8 1/2 X 8 1/2 X 1 1/2 in. 

#7147 . 

In 1874 the silversmiths Clarence L. Watson and Fred Newell along with goldsmiths Charles Cobb, Samuel Gould and W.A. Battey jointly formed Cobb, Gould & Co in Attleboro, Massachusetts. The firm started by producing a line of jewelry goods, mainly gold plated. Between 1875 and 1880 Battey, Cobb and Gould all withdrew from the partnership, and Watson and Newell formed a new firm operating under the name Watson & Newell, dedicated specifically to silver jewelry. In 1887 Joseph R. Ripley joined the business and the name changed to Watson, Newell & Co. In 1891 Edward L. Gowern entered the partnership, although the name stayed the same. Rapid expansion led the company to acquire the defunct Mechanics Mill property in 1894, opening a new factory there in 1896. At that time the name changed yet again to Watson & Newell Co, while Mechanics Sterling Company was created as a subsidiary flatware branch. In 1899 the firm obtained its first flatware patent under Watson, and began a wide production of flatware and souvenir spoons. Failing health forced Newell to retire from  active participation in the firm in 1901, remaining as a silent partner until his death in 1910. In 1904 a sleeve and collar buttons division under the direction of Ripley and Gowen became a separate operating unit in the Mechanics factory, with the name Standard Button Company. In 1920 the numerous companies were consolidated under he name The Watson Company, producing many new silver and flatware designs. When Watson died in 1930 his son-in-law Grover Richards took over management, eventually selling the company to R. Wallace & Sons in 1955, who retired the name and many of the designs. The J.T. Inman Co Inc. of Attleboro purchased over 3000 dies of Watson souvenir spoons from Wallace in the 1970s, but have not put any of them into production, instead focusing almost exclusively on picture frames.