Old Friends  
2345f   $335.00

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Rarely found, Gale's "Gothic" is treasured by collectors of mid 19th century pattern flatware.

The name and the design elements are completely convergent and architectural in manner. The handle margins are columnar with central arches extending out from these. This structure in turn supports a quatrefoil, window-like element. The pointed tip of the handle has a leafy edge, and the lower portion an acanthus leaf drop. Both front and back sides are identical in design, while the terminus is... Click for details

Old Friends  
2329f   $38.00

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Measuring 8 5/16" long, and weighing 1.8 T. oz., this coin silver spoon was likely a place piece although it is essentially the size of today's tablespoon.

It was made by New York's Albert Coles, whose three part pseudo hallmark and name, "A. Coles," both appear on the backside of the handle.

The pattern is "Bead," which was a standard mid 19th century design. This example has a fancy, feathered script "W" engraved on the front.

It is in very good condition. There are no mars or... Click for details

Old Friends  
2316f   $250.00

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Marked "Sterling," these eight forks retailed by Boston's Crosby & Morse (1864-69) are transition pieces between the coin and sterling silver standards. Each one measures 7 3/16" long, while the group weighs 11.6 T. oz.

They have plain handles with rounded and upturned ends. The lower sections are engraved in a period design with a central palmette motif, while the ends have script "EL" monograms. The backsides are unadorned.

The are in very good estate condition. There is slight... Click for details

Old Friends  
2300f   $38.00

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This 6 5/16" long, just under .9 T. oz., pastry fork dates circa 1860. It is an early "bow," "ribbon," or "knot" ("le cordon") pattern that was originated by Durgin.

This is an especially engaging example of an early form. The working end has four tines, the lower one of which is wider and has a hooked tip. The heel is deep and sculpted, and it and the tines have bright cut and wriggle work engraving.

There is a script name which reads "Darn," "Dam" or something similar, on the... Click for details

Old Friends  
2284f   $40.00

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Working with his brother, Alonzo, in Albany, New York, 1831-38, Chauncey Johnson is identified as a silversmith and jeweler.

In addition to the "C. & A.W. Johnson" for that partnership stamped on this 8 1/2" long, 1.5 T. oz., tablespoon, it also carries an "eagle, D, bust" pseudo hallmark. In his benchmark work on these marks, McGrew associates this with Hall and Hewson, also of Albany, which suggests a relationship between these two parties.

A straightforward, down-turned "Reverse... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20141113-01   $35.00

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Offered is a very scarce example of the work of little-known silversmith Horace P. Woodbridge, who appears to have worked in St. Louis around 1835. His mark is known on at least one piece that also bears a city mark of ST.LOUIS. See "Missouri's Silver Age" by Norman Mack, page 150. Mr. Woodbridge apparently died young at age 47; it is unknown how long he was able to make or mark silver. This salt spoon is quite small at about 3 1/2 inches in length, and weighs about 6 grams. Condition is... Click for details

Old Friends  
2276f   $25.00

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This 8 5/8" long, 1.5 T. oz., "Fiddle Tipt" tablespoon dates from the 1840s and is marked "J.C. Farnsworth" and "Boston."

While born in 1799, John Carey Farnsworth's record as a jeweler and watchmaker in Boston is only documented from 1843 to 1857. For some of that time he was in partnership with Aaron Dennison and George Adams.

It is engraved "Elvira." in script on the front of the handle and is in very good condition. The bowl has a bit of tip wear and some very shallow dimpling in... Click for details

Gebelein  
4260   $100.00

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Fiddle, upturned handles, chamfered finsength 8-3/4", tipt, drop. Length 8-3/4". Wt. of pair 3.15 troy ounces. The monogram is a lengthwise script JEBP. Overall and mark condition are excellent (minor dents in bowls).

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20141106-03   $25.00

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Offered is a fine American coin silver teaspoon by Lancaster silversmiths, watchmakers and jewelers Henry L. Zahm and Edward J. Zahm, brothers who entered into partnership sometime in the 1854-66 timeframe. This spoon bears what might be the partnership's earliest maker's mark, and certainly its most appealing. This piece is also engraved with a period script monogram. It measures about 5 3/4 inches in length and weighs about 16 grams. Condition is excellent, with modest wear from normal use... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20141106-01   $75.00

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Offered is a fine pair of early American coin silver table spoons by noted Philadelphia silversmith Harvey Lewis. Mr. Lewis is known for his Empire and late Neoclassical silver; his career spanned the period 1802-25, though he may have worked as late as 1827, whereupon he became ill and largely retired. He died about 1835. These tablespoons measure a little over 9 inches in length, and together weigh about 100 grams. They are monogrammed with a period engraved script "SJ" or ""SI". Condition... Click for details

Old Friends  
2271f   $45.00

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Edmond Kidney of New York City was the organizing principal of several partnerships that spanned the years 1853 to the mid 1870s. This 6" long, T. oz., coin silver spoon is marked "K&J" for the last of these associations, Kidney & Johnson, which dates from 1868.

The pattern is a "Medallion," which in this case features a left-facing, classical, female figure. The handle has a twist stem, while the bowl is elongated and has a ribbed interior. This is large for an ice cream spoon, but the... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20141101-01   $27.50

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Offered is a fine American coin silver master butter knife made by Wood & Hughes and retailed by noted clockmaker Louis P. Juvet, whose biographical information follows this item's description. This nicely made master butter knife has a period engraved monogram and legible marks. It measures about 7 1/4 inches in length and weighs about 28 grams. Condition is very good with modest wear but no dents or repairs. A fine and useful piece from the Hudson Valley! Mr. Juvet was born and trained... Click for details

Old Friends  
2267f   $65.00

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This example of Tiffany's "Antique Ivy" is a 7 1/16" long, and extremely heavy at nearly 2.2 T. oz., dessert or place spoon.

This has a rounded, upturned handle with ivy leaves engraved on the surface. In this instance, the reserve on the front is also inscribed with an American eagle surrounded by laurel branches. Whether this was intended to be purely decorative or had a familial or positional association is unknown, but in either case it is an enhancement to the design. The backside is... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20141027-01   $27.50

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Offered is a fine early 19th Century American coin silver spoon by noted Baltimore silversmith Littleton Holland, bearing assay marks for either 1817 or 1823 (identical marks and probably the same dies were used for those two years). More information on Baltimore's short-lived assay system appears below. This spoon has a good clear maker's mark and hallmarks, and an engraved period script monogram. This spoon measures about 5 3/4 inches in length and weighs about 18 grams. Condition is fair... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20141023-01   $22.50

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Offered is a good early American coin silver teaspoon by John Matthew Miksh of Bethlehem, PA. This piece is a little over 5 3/4 inches in length, and weighs about 14 grams. This spoon has a good clear mark and a well-executed period script monogram, as well as an early script engraved mono to the reverse. Condition is fair overall, though the bowl has two small splits (pictured) and is somewhat out of round. All in all a nice piece with a great maker's mark! Biographical information for Mr.... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20141021-02   $35.00

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Offered is a very fine early American coin silver teaspoon bearing the mark of Harrisburg craftsman George Beatty. Beatty seems to have focused mainly on clocks, and his silver generally bears the "Philadelphia Eagle" manufacturer's mark, thought to have been in use between 1825 and 1850. Biographical information on Mr. Beatty follows the description of this piece. This spoon is engraved "R.McClure" in period script and has good legible mark. It measures about 5 13/16 inches in length and... Click for details