Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20190519-01   $29.50

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Offered is an interesting early American coin silver teaspoon in a style consistent with 18th Century Pennsylvanian German silversmiths, and marked LH - probably for Lewis (Ludwig) Heck, working in Lancaster circa 1780-1817. This piece probably dates to about 1790-1800. It has an engraved monogram that could be period but appears a bit later in terms of the depth of the engraving. This piece measures about 4 5/8 inches in length and weighs about 7 grams. Condition is poor overall, with... Click for details

Old Friends  
3872f   $115.00

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Marked only "Coin," absent a maker's stamp, this 8 7/8" long, 2.0 T. oz., berry or other serving spoon with a twisted shank and engraved and engine turned, notched, handle is reminiscent of a die struck pattern named "Imperial" that was produced by both Gorham and Wood & Hughes about 1860.

It is a handsome item exhibiting sophisticated design and manufacturing processes.

The twist feature was a favored device in the period, as was the fine engine turned surface complimented by precise... Click for details

Old Friends  
3865f   $48.00

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Weighing 1.6 T. oz. and measuring a lengthy 7 5/8", this master butter knife is a generously sized piece.

Marked only "Coin," the convex, shaped side and pointed end handle with bright cut engraving, is indicative of Philadelphia silver of the c. 1860 period, particular so that of William Faber.

The blade is wide, has an upswept tip, scalloped back, and is engraved in a design akin to that on the handle.

The join with the handle curves up and is especially thick, lending it extra... Click for details

Old Friends  
3862f   $28.00

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One of four available, varying in weight from 1.2 to 1.4 T. oz., this 6 3/4" long place, aka dessert or oval soup spoon, is marked "Stebbins & Co.," for the mid 19th century firm operated by William Stebbins, successor to his brother Edwin.

It is also stamped "Patent 1848," which is the date of the "Gothic" style pattern, as designed by Abraham Wood of the New York City firm A&W Wood.

The handle is engraved "Williams" in cursive lettering.

In excellent condition, pattern detail remains... Click for details

Old Friends  
3859f   $115.00

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Dating circa 1860, this 7 3/4" long, 1.9 T. oz., cheese scoop is marked with an "H, star, anchor," pseudo hallmark that is attributed to New York City silversmith Henry Hebbard, who at various times had working associations with John Polhamus, George Strong, and George Moore. Some of Hebbard's designs were later produced by Whiting.

It is a robust piece, with a broad, slightly upturned end, "Fiddle Thread" aka "French Thread" pattern handle.

This is engraved in script lettering "M.W.C." on... Click for details

Old Friends  
3855f   $26.00

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A 7" long, 1.3 T. oz., place or dessert piece, this spoon traces to the early decades of the 19th century.

It is marked "B&SD" for Benjamin and Samuel Demilt. Multiple sources date this New York City partnership to 1820-35.

It also has a "lion, bust, G" pseudo hallmark that John McGrew in his work on such marks attributes to an unknown NYC maker.

The pattern is a "Kings" design on an hourglass shaped handle with a plain reverse save for the marks. The bowl has a shell back.

It is... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20190424-02   $85.00

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Offered is a nice example of the work of the celebrated Baltimore silversmith William Ball (working circa 1789-1815), whose work is surprisingly scarce. This is the first piece of his that I've come across. This piece is marked with Ball's maker's mark twice, and the clearer of the two marks is pictured here (see all pictures by clicking on the first one). This spoon is also graced with a period engraved script monogram and a nicely decorated handle. This piece measures about 8 7/8 inches in... Click for details

Old Friends  
3846f   $46.00

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"Jenny Lind" was a pattern first introduced by New York City's Albert Coles in 1850, although numerous contemporaneous manufacturers took up the design, leaving extant pieces that bear a variety of makers' marks.

This example, a 7 1/4", weighty at 1.5 T. oz., place, aka oval soup or dessert, spoon is a rarity though in that it is stamped "11" (one of Baltimore's individualized standard marks, for a .917 silver content, midway between coin and sterling) and "A.E.W" for Baltimore's Andrew... Click for details

Old Friends  
3840f   $48.00

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Dating circa 1865, this 7 1/2" long, weighty at 1.5 T. oz., master butter knife is stamped "*F. & H.*" on the blade for Boston's Farrington & Hunnewell, and "Pure Coin," which is a New England term, on the underside of the handle.

It is twisted, with the handle and blade set at right angles to one another.

The slightly upturned, thick handle has a pedimented end and is extensively diamond bright cut on the front in a pattern that is characteristic of Boston in the period.

The scalloped... Click for details

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2397   $375.00

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Philadelphia circa 1790, with round downturned end and rounded drop, length 14 1/4 inches, weight 6.0 Troy ounces, monogrammed "RRC" (period script, obverse), with a scratch below these initials as shown and a few minor nicks in bowl but very good overall condition. In an attempt to distinguish this ladle from its peers, we'll mention that the bowl has a slight boat shape when viewed head on, as you may see in photo number four.

Old Friends  
3833f   $30.00

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This place, aka dessert or oval soup, spoon measures 7" long and weighs approximately 1.0 T. oz.

It is appealing in several respects.

First is its pleasing form, with a broad, down turned, "Reverse Tipt" handle, oval bowl with a pointed end, and clean drop on the bowl back.

The name "H E Benedict" is engraved in handsome, feathered script, lettering set sideways on the handle.

There are abundant maker's marks, which would feed a collector's interest. They include "Clark" "and... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20190407-03   $24.00

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Offered is a very nice early American coin silver teaspoon by noted Philadelphia silversmith and jeweler Nicholas Le Huray (or LeHuray) Jr., working circa 1821-46 in that city. Nicholas Junior's work is always desirable and usually very finely done. This spoon is no exception, with a lively period engraved script monogram, and nice proportions. Please scroll through all the pictures by clicking on the first picture. This spoon measures about 5 3/4 inches in length and weighs about 13 grams. ... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20190406-NFS   Not For Sale

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NOT FOR SALE - Here's a challenge - a circa 1790-1810 American coin silver tablespoon marked only IS in a large serrated punch, with a nicely engraved period script monogram of GJM and a V-shaped drop. This piece measures about 9 1/2 inches in length and weighs about 59 grams. It came in a lot with a piece by Caleb Bentley of DC, VA and MD, and it has the look of rural VA, MD or PA. I haven't seen this particular mark before, and am hoping someone else has. If you can solve this piece (or... Click for details

Old Friends  
3826f   $35.00

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Measuring 7 1/8" long and weighing approximately 1.0 T. oz., this size spoon is variously identified as a place, dessert or oval soup.

This example is in a "Fiddle Tipt" pattern and is stamped "Kirby," for Abner, "Milwaukee," and with a "P, eagle, star" pseudo hallmark.

In his work on marks, William McGrew identifies this combination of symbols with William Pitkin of Hartford, Connecticut, but he also associates the particular eagle on this with Chicago, which is a much more likely source... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20190331-11   $45.00

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Offered is a very nice American coin silver table spoon by Prisca Levan Mannerback (Mannerbach), son of the well-known Reading silversmith William Mannerback. The younger Mannerbach/Mannerback, who went by Levan based on his maker's mark, started working under his own mark not much earlier than 1825, given that he was born in 1807, and that would make him 18 in 1825. This piece probably dates to the 1825-40 period. You can see all the pictures by clicking on the first picture. This piece has... Click for details

Old Friends  
3820f   $24.00

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References indicate that William Braisted Heyer, born 1776, began his working career in New York City at the end of the 18th century and continued until his death in 1828, and for a short while during this time was in partnership with Jesse L. Gale.

Based on its style, with a straight sided, rounded end, slender handle with a slightly tipt backside, this spoon dates circa 1810.

It measures a lengthy 6", and has a weighty feel at approximately .8 T. oz.

Well crafted, it has a gently... Click for details