RARE Set of 4 By-Natale Rossi Hand-Forged Aluminum Dogwood Napkin Rings – PA For Sale

Offered from an antique dealer’s collection is a beautiful and unusually hard-to-find matched set of four vintage handmade By-Natale napkin rings, featuring an elegant raised dogwood-style floral motif.

What makes this set particularly interesting is that it contains two different By-Natale workshop markings:

Two are stamped:

“HANDMADE – By Natale – GROVE CITY, PA.”

Two are stamped:

“HAND MADE – BY-NATALE – LEESBURG, PA.”

Although the markings are different, these are not pieces by two unrelated artists. They represent the work of the By-Natale operation associated with noted Pennsylvania metal craftsman Natale L. Rossi and his family.

Rossi had a long association with the renowned Wendell August Forge and became one of its important craftsmen and die cutters. After leaving Wendell August around 1979–1980, Rossi established By-Natale, producing his own hand-forged aluminum work. Historical documentation specifically identifies pieces marked “By Natale” as Rossi’s work.

The Rossi family subsequently operated By-Natale in both Grove City and Leesburg, Pennsylvania, making the presence of both workshop markings in this matching set especially interesting. A museum-documented By-Natale piece dated 1992 carries the Leesburg “HAND MADE / BY-NATALE / LEESBURG, PA” marking, further documenting use of that mark.

Each napkin ring is a substantial open-cuff form approximately 1½ inches tall and about 2 inches across, with beautifully detailed raised blossoms, leaves and branches against a softly finished metal ground.

The four pieces display extremely well together. There are minor surface variations, patina and signs of age/use appropriate for vintage handcrafted metalware. They have not been aggressively polished, preserving their vintage character.

A wonderful addition to a collection of Pennsylvania decorative arts, American hand-forged aluminum, By-Natale, Natale Rossi, Wendell August-related metalwork, vintage tableware or dogwood collectibles.

Selling as one complete set of four — two Grove City marked and two Leesburg marked.