Every story has a beginning. Conversely, the story of Bruce Fox products has its own beginning...

The company’s product history is rooted in cast aluminum giftware, which was sold through a retail storefront connected to the factory in New Albany. Many of the items that made Bruce Fox famous are pictured below.

Sample Giftware

1. A large, two-piece serving dish cast in pure aluminum
2. The quintessential Bruce Fox design—a natural leaf element cast as a dish
3. Rainbow trout serving dish—functional art in the highest form
4. Among Bruce Fox’s most famous items, the steer-head steak knife set in original gift bag
5. A pineapple dish, inspired from Bruce Fox’s travels to tropical South America
6. An ash valet with leather inlay and bas-relief horse design
7. A novel item using the steer head design
8. A companion to the popular steer-head cutlery sets, this serving tray features solid hardwood and cast aluminum handles

Interesting facts about Bruce Fox giftware

• Many of the original sculptures were created by Bruce Fox himself. Much of his inspiration was derived from his travels throughout the western hemisphere, with particular focus on elements from nature.
• Before founding the company in New Albany, Indiana in 1938, Bruce Fox was a studio artist in New York City.
• Many popular giftware items were designed by renowned artist Royal Hickman. Many of those pieces bear the hallmark “RH”.
• During its height in the 1940’s and 1950’s, aluminum was a relatively rare, “space age” product that was new to many people and had great appeal as a decorative element in people’s homes.
• After Bruce Fox’s death in 1960, the company shifted its focus to corporate gifts and recognition products.
• The company sold the giftware line to Wilton Armetale in 1975. Wilton continued to produce many of the popular designs from the original Bruce Fox molds for many years thereafter.
• The stylized “Bruce Fox” signature hallmark that is stamped into many giftware items is often mistaken as “Bruce Cox”—collectors know this and keep an eye on web auction sites for mislabeled Bruce Fox giftware items.
• Aluminum is a highly-functional material that is ideal for serving food right from the oven or refrigerator. The high-quality, pure aluminum alloy used by Bruce Fox is perfectly safe for food items.

Thanks to Betty Hoffman and Jennifer Hartweck for the loan of Bruce Fox giftware items from their personal collections.