Towle Silversmiths
Towle Silversmiths is an American silver manufacturer and heritage flatware brand known for sterling silver patterns and hollowware.
Last updated August 24, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Towle Silversmiths is an American silver manufacturer and heritage tableware brand whose history is traced to a silversmithing shop established by William Moulton II in Newbury, Massachusetts, in 1690. Moulton is identified as the first silversmith in Newbury, and the family continued operating the shop for generations. The business later became associated with Anthony Francis Towle and William P. Jones, who incorporated their work as Towle & Jones in 1857. The enterprise was renamed A.F. Towle & Son in 1873, while Anthony Francis Towle subsequently established the Towle Manufacturing Co. in 1882. These successive structures formed the basis of the Towle name as a commercial silver manufacturer. In the late nineteenth century, Towle developed both flatware and hollowware capabilities. Richard Dimes, an English silversmith who immigrated to the United States in 1881, was responsible for starting Towle's hollowware line. Dimes also worked for the Frank W. Smith Silver Co. and later established the Richard Dimes Co. in Boston. In 1890, Towle adopted a trademark consisting of a large script letter T enclosing a lion, a mark that helped identify its silver products. The company's name ultimately became Towle Silversmiths. Towle's best-known contributions are its sterling silver flatware patterns, produced in the United States across the twentieth century. Candlelight, introduced in 1934, became one of the company's recognized designs. Marie Louise followed in 1939 and was selected as the official sterling silver pattern for United States embassies worldwide. Old Master, introduced in 1942, is often regarded as Towle's signature or flagship pattern. In 1950, Towle introduced Contour, designed by Robert J. King and patented by John Van Koert. Its organic modernist form represented a post-World War II departure from more traditional American flatware styling. Contour was also the only production-line American flatware design included in the Museum of Modern Art's Good Design exhibitions, according to the cited reference material. Towle expanded through acquisitions during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The expansion was followed by operational and market difficulties, including inventory and distribution problems and a weak retail environment. Towle filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1986. In 1990, the brand was acquired by Syratech Inc., a holding company that also owned Wallace Silversmiths and the International Silver Company. Lifetime Brands Inc. purchased Syratech in 2006, bringing Towle, Wallace, and International Silver into the Lifetime Brands portfolio. The brand's identity is rooted in American silversmithing continuity, formal sterling flatware, and historically significant design patterns. Its heritage spans handcraft-oriented origins, industrial manufacturing, diplomatic and institutional use, modernist design recognition, corporate consolidation, and later ownership within a broader house of kitchenware and tabletop brands. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate current headquarters, standalone public listing, or independently reported financial results for Towle Silversmiths.
History
Towle Silversmiths traces its lineage to 1690, when William Moulton II established a silversmithing shop in Newbury, Massachusetts. Moulton is described as the first silversmith in Newbury, and his family continued the shop's operation. The business entered a more formal corporate phase in the nineteenth century. In 1857, apprentices Anthony Francis Towle and William P. Jones incorporated their work as Towle & Jones. The company became A.F. Towle & Son in 1873. In 1882, Anthony Francis Towle established the Towle Manufacturing Co., while retaining ownership of A.F. Towle & Son. The company expanded its product capabilities beyond flatware. Richard Dimes, an English silversmith who had immigrated to the United States in 1881, started Towle's hollowware line. Dimes also worked for the Frank W. Smith Silver Co. before later establishing his own Richard Dimes Co. in Boston. Towle adopted a distinctive trademark in 1890: a large script T enclosing a lion. The enterprise eventually adopted the name Towle Silversmiths. During the twentieth century, the brand became associated with numerous American sterling silver flatware patterns. Candlelight appeared in 1934, followed by Marie Louise in 1939. Marie Louise was selected as the official sterling silver pattern for United States embassies worldwide, giving the design an institutional and diplomatic association. Old Master was introduced in 1942 and is commonly treated as Towle's flagship pattern. In 1950, Towle released Contour, designed by Robert J. King and patented by John Van Koert. The design's organic modernist treatment made it an important postwar departure from more traditional American flatware. It was also the only production-line American flatware design included in the Museum of Modern Art's Good Design exhibitions. Towle pursued growth through acquisitions in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The expansion created business pressures, and the company later experienced inventory and distribution problems alongside a weak retail market. Towle filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1986. The brand was acquired by Syratech Inc. in 1990. Syratech's portfolio also included Wallace Silversmiths and the International Silver Company, placing several American silver names under common ownership. In 2006, Lifetime Brands Inc. bought Syratech and consequently acquired Towle and the other associated brands. Towle's historical importance rests on the combination of long-term American silversmithing lineage, industrial-scale production, recognizable sterling patterns, and design experimentation. Its products connect traditional formal table settings with twentieth-century modernist design, while its corporate history reflects the consolidation and financial pressures experienced by American silver manufacturers and tabletop brands.
- 2006
Acquired by Lifetime Brands
[1]Lifetime Brands Inc. purchased Syratech and acquired Towle as part of the transaction.
- 1990
Acquired by Syratech
[1]Syratech Inc. acquired Towle Silversmiths.
- 1986
Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing
[1]Towle filed for Chapter 11 protection amid operational and retail-market difficulties.
- 1950
Contour pattern introduced
[1]Towle launched Contour, an organic modernist pattern designed by Robert J. King and patented by John Van Koert.
- 1942
Old Master pattern introduced
[1]Towle introduced Old Master, a pattern often regarded as the company's signature offering.
- 1939
Marie Louise pattern introduced
[1]Marie Louise was introduced and later became the official sterling silver pattern for United States embassies worldwide.
- 1934
Candlelight pattern introduced
[1]Towle introduced the Candlelight sterling silver flatware pattern.
- 1890
Script T and lion trademark adopted
[1]Towle adopted a trademark featuring a large script T enclosing a lion.
- 1882
Towle Manufacturing Co. established
[1]Anthony Francis Towle established the Towle Manufacturing Co. while continuing to own A.F. Towle & Son.
- 1873
Business becomes A.F. Towle & Son
[1]The business adopted the name A.F. Towle & Son.
Products and positioning
A heritage American silversmithing and tabletop brand positioned around sterling silver flatware, traditional formal dining, historically recognized patterns, and design continuity.
Sterling silver flatware pattern · 1934
Candlelight
Introduced in 1934, Candlelight is one of Towle's established American sterling silver flatware patterns. It represents the brand's traditional formal-tabletop offering and is part of the pattern heritage associated with Towle's twentieth-century manufacturing history.
Sterling silver flatware pattern · 1939
Marie Louise
Introduced in 1939, Marie Louise became the official sterling silver pattern for United States embassies worldwide. Its diplomatic association distinguishes it from ordinary household flatware and illustrates Towle's role in formal institutional table settings.
Sterling silver flatware pattern · 1942
Old Master
Released in 1942, Old Master is widely treated in reference descriptions as Towle's flagship pattern. It embodies the brand's classic sterling silver positioning and remains one of the most closely identified designs in Towle's historical pattern portfolio.
Modernist sterling silver flatware pattern · 1950
Contour
Contour was introduced in 1950 and designed by Robert J. King, with a patent attributed to John Van Koert. Its organic modernist form marked a post-World War II shift away from strictly traditional flatware styling. It was the only production-line American flatware design included in the Museum of Modern Art's Good Design exhibitions.
Silver hollowware
Towle hollowware
Towle's hollowware line was started by Richard Dimes. The category broadened the company beyond individual eating utensils into shaped silver serving and tableware pieces, complementing its sterling flatware production.
Brand decisions
2006
Acquisition through Lifetime Brands' purchase of SyratechM&ABackground
Syratech owned Towle and several other established American silver brands.
Action taken
Lifetime Brands Inc. purchased Syratech, acquiring Towle Silversmiths as part of the transaction.
Aftermath
Towle became part of Lifetime Brands' broader portfolio of kitchenware and tabletop brands.
1990
Acquisition by SyratechM&ABackground
Following its 1986 bankruptcy filing and earlier expansion, Towle entered a period of ownership consolidation.
Action taken
Syratech Inc. acquired Towle Silversmiths and held it alongside Wallace Silversmiths and the International Silver Company.
Aftermath
Towle became part of a multi-brand silver and tabletop portfolio until Syratech was purchased by Lifetime Brands in 2006.
1986
Chapter 11 bankruptcy protectionOtherBackground
Towle faced inventory and distribution problems while operating in a weak retail market.
Action taken
The company filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code.
Aftermath
Towle was subsequently acquired by Syratech in 1990.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/towle-silversmiths · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled