Old Friends  
2381f   On Hold

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Marked "J. Wallace" and with a symbol that John McGrew in his work on pseudo hallmarks identifies as the "Western eagle head" "from the frontier regions," this table or serving spoon measure 8 15/16" long and weighs just under 2.0 T. oz.

Dating from the first quarter of the 19th century, it has a plain, down turned end with a slightly tipt backside, high, sharply beveled wings off the bowl, and a pronounced drop on the bowl.

There is no monogram or removal.

It is in very fine... Click for details

Old Friends  
2377f   $75.00

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There are conflicting attributions offered for the mark, "J. Doll," that appears on the backside of this substantial, 9 1/4" long, almost 2.1 T. oz., coin silver tablespoon.

Earlier sources locate this maker in New York City, although that assignment has vague substantiation. Another source locates Joseph Doll in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with working dates 1795-1818.

These years are more convergent with the style of this plain end with a subtle down turned, reverse tipt handle with... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20150201-04   $37.50

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Offered is a fine American coin silver teaspoon by prominent Chambersburg, PA silversmith and clockmaker Alexander Scott, who worked in that location from about 1796 to his death in 1822. See my other listings for a very early tablespoon by Scott; this listing is for a late teaspoon, probably made in the last decade or so of Scott's life. This piece bears a legible maker's mark and good engraved period script initials for the original owner. This spoon measures about 5 11/16 inches in length... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20150201-02   $150.00

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Offered is a very fine and rare pair early Paris, Ohio coin silver teaspoons by the short-lived partnership of McNeely & Estep, working circa 1814. See my other listings for a single teaspoon from this same set. This pair of spoons is very fine indeed, with lovely proportions and only moderate wear. They are each graced with a good clear maker's mark and engraved with period script initials for the original owner (given Paris was a very small village in 1814, it is quite possible the... Click for details

Old Friends  
2305f   This item is currently being auctioned

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Taylor & Hinsdale was a New York City partnership with dates 1804-29, with a branch in Newark, New Jersey 1804-10.

This 9" long, just touching 2.0 T. oz., tablespoon bears the firm's "T&H" stamp along with a "bust, lion, G" pseudo hallmark that John McGrew in his work on American coin silver marks identifies as possibly (William) Forbes. McGrew notes that "most pieces with this mark are Basket of Flowers or Sheaf of Wheat Patterns." This piece is somewhat in that category in that it has a... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20141106-02   Sold

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Offered is an unusually well-preserved Pennsylvania coin silver pictureback tea spoon by William Haverstick, Sr. or Jr. of Lancaster; rather than the somewhat more common birdback type, this is a wheatback spoon found only on spoons made by members of the Haverstick family. This particular spoon is engraved with period block initials and has a late,maker's mark, when the die was already wearing out. The die-struck wheat decoration, however, is quite well struck and is about 70 to 80 percent... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20141101-02   $525.00

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Offered is a fine early American coin silver beaker by Philadelphia silversmith John Aitken, working in that city from at least 1780 through about 1808. Aitken's biography is given in Hollan's "Philadelphia Silversmiths" and elsewhere. This beaker is graced with a very well executed period script monogram, the large size of which indicates a likely earlier date for the beaker, perhaps around 1780-95. The maker's mark is also legible. This beaker or julep cup measures about 3 inches to the... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20141027-02   $25.00

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Offered is a nice early American coin silver teaspoon by the short lived partnership of Philadelphia silversmiths Charles Moore and John Ferguson, working as Moore & Ferguson between 1801 and 1804. This spoon measures about 5 1/2 inches in length and weighs about 14 grams. Condition is fair, with some surface scratching and modest tip wear and light dimpling, but no splits or repairs. This piece has a good clear maker's mark and a period engraved script monogram. All in all a fine example of... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20141022-01   Sold

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Offered is a fine early American coin silver tea spoon by Jacob Kucher of Philadelphia, with engraved decoration to the handle and die-struck birdback decoration (described by Hollan as "a husky eagle with laurel wreath") to the bowl. This spoon has a legible maker's mark, a nice engraved period script monogram, with a small letter A added early on, and a nicely struck eagle-back, which is somewhat worn but still quite legible. Feathers are even visible here and there. This piece measures a... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20141019-05   $50.00

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Offered is a lovely decorated early American coin silver teaspoon by noted Philadelphia makers Aime and Charles Brandt, working in partnership circa 1800-14. This spoon has a unique shape and is very well engraved with decorative elements as well as a script monogram. The shape is similar to certain spoons by William Walker, but was probably made by the Brandts. This piece also bears a die-struck shell decoration to the heel. The maker's mark is quite legible. Condition overall is very... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20141018-02   Sale Pending

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Offered is a very scarce and interesting example of the American coin silver wares made by early 19th Century silversmith, jeweler and clock and watch maker William W. Bell (1777-1842). In addition to his career as a silversmith, Mr. Bell also had other pursuits - he is noted as having been an officer (Ensign) in the War of 1812, and he was the appointed Postmaster for Gettysburg from 1829-41. Bell appears to have worked his entire career (about 1800 to his death in 1842) in Gettysburg, and... Click for details

Old Friends  
2252f   This item is currently being auctioned

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This pair of coin silver tongs measure a lengthy 6 1/4" long and weigh nearly 1.7 T. oz.

Stamped "Rockwell" along with a sheaf of wheat pseudo hallmark, this identifier is attributed to Edward Rockwell by both Louise Belden and John McGrew in their respective works on marks. He is to be distinguished from Samuel D. Rockwell with whom Edward was in partnership 1815-47, with some similarity of marks.

This item appears to date from Edward's early working years, 1803-14. It has a broad... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20141008-05   $22.50

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A fine late 18th or early 19th Century American coin silver teaspoon by noted Philadelphia silversmith Samuel Richards, working circa 1793-1818. This spoon has a nicely executed period engraved script monogram and a well-struck maker's mark. This spoon is in good condition with a minor dimple or two, but no serious dents and no splits or repairs. There is some wear and scratching to the surface that can be seen above the maker's mark on the reverse of the spoon. All in all a good piece of... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20141008-04   $35.00

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A fine and scarce early American coin silver master salt spoon by noted Philadelphia silversmith Harvey Lewis. Mr. Lewis is known for his Empire and late Neoclassical silver; his career spanned the period 1802-25. This piece probably dates to the 1815-25 period, but could be a few years earlier. It measures about 4 5/8 inches in length and weighs about 14 grams. Condition is very good, with moderate surface wear, but no dents, splits or repairs. There is a well-executed period engraved... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20141008-02   Sold

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A fine early American coin silver master salt spoon by noted Philadelphia silversmith William Seal (b. 1775, d. 1853), working circa 1810 through the 1820s. None of his silver appears to date much later by style. This master salt spoon is in very good condition, with some surface wear but no dents, splits or repairs. It measures about 4 1/8 inches in length and weighs about 8 grams. This piece features a well-executed period script monogram and a clear maker's mark. The spoon also bear's... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20141005-11   $65.00

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Offered is an extremely scarce example of a coffin-end spoon definitively from Philadelphia; in fact, this is the only such example I've ever observed. Coffin-end spoons from New York and New England are quite readily found, but the style never took hold in Philadelphia, and is virtually never seen. This spoon was made by John W. Gethen and retailed by Allen Armstrong, who was working circa 1806-16. This piece features good clear marks and a period engraved script monogram. Condition is... Click for details