Eugene J. Kupjack (American, 1912-1991) is best known for the 30 shadow-box style miniature room displays that he crafted for Narcissa Niblack Thorne, the widow of James Ward Thorne, an heir of Montgomery Ward & Co., to be displayed at the 1939 World's Fair. These detailed 1:12 scale miniature rooms recorded the decorative arts styles of home interiors ranging from the Georgian and Colonial periods to Art Deco. At the close of the 1939 World' Fair, the miniature rooms were presented to the Art Institute of Chicago, where they remain as a popular display to the present day. This work in creating miniatures became Kupjack's career, during which he created some 700 period miniature room displays for other museums and serious collectors. His two sons continue his tradition.
Eugene Kupjack's impressed block letter 'KUPJACK' mark for Kupjack Studios appears on the underside of the tray which is a reproduction of George Washington's footed tea board with armorial from circa 1770s (2"x1 3/8"), E.K. #301. Each of the other component items bear his EK monogram stamp. All of the pieces are miniature copies of early American Colonial era silver forms by noted silversmiths, including a squat octagonal teapot with ebonized finish scroll handle and gooseneck spout (7/8" length x 11/16"ht.), E.K. #319; a lighthouse form tapered coffeepot with ebonized finish handle and domed cover with engraved armorial (3/4" ht. x 13/16" over spout); an urn form sugar bowl on a pedestal base & engraved armorial (5/8" ht.); and a squat cream pitcher with scroll handle, supported on three hoof feet (1/2" length x 3/8" ht.). See the photo with all items displayed together with a U.S. quarter coin used to show the 1:12 scale.
None of the items is marked sterling; however, Kupjack made his miniatures from sterling silver without marks. We have not tested any of the items.