Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20190816-03   $100.00

click for details

Offered is a very rare 18th Century American coin silver tablespoon by the sought-after Baltimore silversmith Standish Barry (1763-1844), who is equally known for the silver coinage he struck, and his military career (he served in the Revolution as a teenager, and then in the Baltimore militia forces until late in life, achieving the rank of Colonel and participating in multiple battles during the War of 1812). Barry's work is quite uncommon, and I am happy to be able to offer this tablespoon,... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20190816-02   $75.00

click for details

Offered is a very rare 18th Century American coin silver tablespoon by the sought-after Baltimore silversmith Standish Barry (1763-1844), who is equally known for the silver coinage he struck, and his military career (he served in the Revolution as a teenager, and then in the Baltimore militia forces until late in life, achieving the rank of Colonel and participating in multiple battles during the War of 1812). Barry's work is quite uncommon, and I am happy to be able to offer this tablespoon,... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20190816-01   $95.00

click for details

Offered is a very rare pair of 18th Century American coin silver tablespoons by the sought-after Baltimore silversmith Standish Barry (1763-1844), who is equally known for the silver coinage he struck, and his military career (he served in the Revolution as a teenager, and then in the Baltimore militia forces until late in life, achieving the rank of Colonel and participating in multiple battles during the War of 1812). Barry's work is comparatively rare, and I am happy to be able to offer this... Click for details

Old Friends  
3955f   On Hold

click for details

Silver in the Golden State published by the Oakland Museum of Art identifies two, albeit quite similar, "Medallion" patterns produced by San Francisco's "Koehler & Ritter" circa 1869.

D. Albert Soeffing in Silver Medallion Flatware notes this same distinction, and further adds that "the output of this medallion pattern does not seem to have been especially large," making this 7 1/2" long, 1.9 T. oz., example rather rare.

Again referencing Soeffing, this line was made in both... Click for details

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2400   $350.00

click for details

preserve spoon with gilt shell bowl, length 9 1/8 inches, excellent original condition, weight 2.01 Troy ounces, retailed by Larmour & Co. of Baltimore.

Though admittedly my memory is not what it used to be, I can't recall ever having owned an item in this pattern. It is a wonderful naturalistic form which Krider executed with the highest quality. We believe that the original cat tail and butterfly model was executed in clay, cut to create the flat side, then folded over (see arrow in... Click for details

Old Friends  
3926f   $85.00

click for details

This 6" long, 1.3 T. oz., pair of coin silver tongs trace to Baltimore with an approximate 1830 date.

This information can be inferred from the marks, which are singular to Baltimore, and appear in an unusual combination on this particular item.

They include two "10.15" (coin) silver designations, one in italics, and the "head of liberty," used in conjunction with Baltimore assay marks beginning in 1815.

An essay in Maryland Silver published by the Baltimore Museum of Art... Click for details

Old Friends  
3914f   $55.00

click for details

The Cincinnati Art Museum holds an essentially matching tablespoon to this 8 3/8" long, 1.2 T. oz., piece. The Museum's example is shown in Figure 81 of Cincinnati Silver 1788-1940.

Coin silver, this was made by Wilson McGrew, c. 1840-56, and carries his mark on the backside.

It has a pronounced "Fiddle" shaped handle with a "Tipt" end, and high, chamfered shoulders, all characteristic of silver style of this region and period.

It is engraved "Butterworth" in fine script... Click for details

Old Friends  
3906f   $52.00

click for details

This 7 3/8" long, 1.2 T. oz., coin silver master butter spreader was made by "Duhme & Co.," Cincinnati's prominent 19th century silversmith and jeweler, and so stamped on the blade backside.

The pattern is "No. 1," introduced in 1869, and is characterized by a twisted stem with a flat, oval, handle, set in this instance at a right angle to the blade.

An online commentator notes that there are at least six "types" or variations of this design, seemingly the most common of which has a... Click for details

Old Friends  
3884f   This item is currently being auctioned

click for details

Measuring 8 1/8" long and weighing 1.8 T. oz., this coin silver item has a generously sized, 2 1/2" diameter, shell-shaped, pierced, bowl and "Reverse Tipt" handle.

Generally identified as a large sugar sifter, there is some argument to be made that pieces this scale from this period were actually early ice spoons.

In either case, it is a fine representation of what it is.

It is stamped "R. Fisher, Jr." and "331 Broad Way, N.Y." on the reverse, for Richard Fisher, working 1846-50, also... Click for details

Old Friends  
3879f   $38.00

click for details

Dating from the first quarter of the 19th century, this lengthy, 8 7/8", 1.5 T. oz., table serving spoon is marked "B. Swan," for Benjamin Moody Swan, who worked as a silversmith in Augusta, Maine beginning circa 1815.

Fiddle shaped, with a down turned, rounded end, and high, pointed and chamfered shoulders off the bowl, the piece demonstrates quality crafting.

It has a somewhat primitive, feathered script "RA" monogram engraved on the handle front, and remains in very fine condition.... Click for details

Old Friends  
3872f   $110.00

click for details

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

click for details

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

click for details

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  
3855f   $26.00

click for details

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   $75.00

click for details

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

click for details

"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