An American Silver Six-Piece Tea Set with Tray, Designed by Alphonse La Paglia for International Silver Co., Meriden, CT, Mid 20th Century

Italian born Alphonse La Paglia (1907-1953) studied silversmithing under Georg Jensen in Denmark. He immigrated to America in the 1940's where he designed and produced jewelry for the firm of Frederick Lunning in New York, which operated as Georg Jensen USA. In 1952, he began designing silver in the modern Danish style for International Silver Co. and moved his workshop to Meriden, CT. He died suddenly of a heart attack in 1953, and the rights to his designs became the property of International and were continued in production after his death.