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Eye of the Needle Restaurant - Seattle Space Needle - 1962 - Hotel Silver Teapot from the Original Order of Silver for the Restaurant's 1962 Opening at the World's FairOffered for your consideration is a 1962 side logo 5" tall by 5 3/4" wide (from the tip of the spout across to the opposite side of the handle) art-deco 10 oz. silver plate coffee pot - teapot made for the opening (in 1962) for the famous Eye of the Needle restaurant that was located atop the Seattle Space Needle for the "Century 21 Seattle World's Fair.
This is not a souvenir item; rather, this is actual vintage heavyweight hotel silver that was ordered from the International Silver Co. for actual dining services atop the Space Needle in the restaurant. This is also the original order of silver plate that featured the image of the Space Needle on the side.
From many years of collecting and seeing a lot of hotel and railroad silver, I strongly believe there was only one order placed for the silver, which was in 1962.
If you collect vintage restaurant ware, historic Seattle World's Fair, or higher-end vintage hotel silver and china, you might wanted to consider this for your collection.
Historically, the restaurant top the space needle was the idea and design of then architect John Graham, Jr.,, of the John Graham & Co, whom had designed and built an earlier revolving restaurant atop the Ala Moana Center a building in Honolulu, Hawaii, and used that design to complete the high restaurant atop the Space Needle. Once completed, the restaurant alone was a then modern marvel giving diners a 360 degree view of the entire Seattle area and World's Fair from 500 feet above that completed the rotation once every 47 minutes.
The April 21st, 1962, opening dinner at the Eye of the Needle included a fine dinner of crab legs, prime rib or salmon, ice cream, and a glass of champagne served in a coupe with a Space Needle–shaped stem for the price of $6.75 per entree. The restaurant alone became its own famous attraction despite being located at what was once considered one of the most popular attractions on the West Coast in 1962; the Space Needle.
Countless people flocked to dine at the restaurant, including visitors to the world's fair, along with, business people, locals from Seattle, and so forth that included all walks of life for those who wanted one of the most speculator aerial views while enjoying one of the finest dining experiences in the entire city.
The restaurant also was host to several famous guests during it early years of operation. Some of those included George Burns, Liberace, the King of Tonga, and many others. During the 1962 filming of the famous Elvis Presley movie (released in 1963) "It happened at the World's Fair" with co-star Joan O'Brien, scenes for the movie were actually filmed at the restaurant using actual china and silver with some scenes showing this actual style of teapot at the teapot. Who knows what famous celebrity, actor, politican, or other famous person may have enjoy coffee, hot tea, or other hot beverages from this piece!
The restaurant continued using the name "Eye of the Needle" to 1979. The second name that it was given was the Emerald Suite from 1980 to 1999. And, the restaurant's last name was Sky City, which listed until it closed in 2017. The restaurant itself in its original form was never repopened after renovations to the Space Needle. Rather today in place of it, there is now the elegant Loupe Lounge Bar.
This coffee pot was made by the International Silver Co. of Meriden, Connecticut, is silver soldered, has the catalog / order number of 05110, has the 1962 datemark on the bottom, and features on the side a beautiful image of the space needle that was done by the silver factory and is all original. It is the heavyweight type steamship, hotel, and railroad silver plate. It would have been used in connection with the Space Needle's - Eye of the Needle original restaurant china and glassware for actual table service.
It has overall scratching, some silver plate wear, some dings / small dents that one would expect to see of actual vintage restaurant - hotel silver designed to be used at the restaurant.
This piece is being offered in the original condition in which I was fortunate to have been able to obtain it in. For me, it has a very nice overall patina that looks great. Should you wish to properly clean it, it should look even better. However, I have elected to leave it in the original condition, as many collectors prefer it this way.
Again, I do not believe that this particular pattern was ordered again after 1962, as evident that there just isn't that much of this silver remaining today.
An amazing addition to your vintage hotel silver, historic Seattle Space Needle, creamer / pitcher / carafe, or restaurantware collection.
The photographic images of the actual inside of the restaurant are shown for historic reference purposes only and are not included with this listing.
Buyer to pay the standard shipping fee shown on the listing, which I will determine how and with what service it will be shipped.
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Items can take up to three (3) days to ship (due to my schedule working here at the animal rescue).
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