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

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2385   $650.00

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Massachusetts circa 1790, length 6 1/8 inches, monogrammed MPH (?) in period script with flourishes, weight .42 oz Troy, excellent condition, please see third enlargement for mark.

Grant was a Colonel in the Revolutionary war, a shipowner, and a man of considerable wealth. His work is in the MFA and also at Old Deerfield.

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2381   $90.00

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Baltimore circa 1860, length five inches, weight .52 Troy ounces, no monogram, excellent condition. Please see third photo for mark. Gilding appears to be original but there is no way to know this, for sure.

This pattern is not common in American silver of the 19th century.

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2370   $125.00

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In what Donald Soeffing has lovingly labeled a "naive" pattern (see Medallion Silver, p. 95); 4 7/8 inches long; weight 2.13 Troy ounces, fine condition; no monogram; applied warrior's head in high relief surrounded by engraving; marked only "COIN 1".

These are far above average in terms of quality, condition, and design.

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2364   Sold

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length 12 1/2 inches, weight 1.04 Troy ounces, monogrammed "T" (obverse, see second photo), excellent condition, unmarked.

The attractively engraved shield in bowl lends this an elegance which will uplift your entire martini routine.

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
1388044   Sold

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New York circa 1855, length 8 inches, weight 10.41 Troy ounces (avg. 1.75 oz. T each), excellent condition, monogrammed "F.E.M." in period script; see third enlargement, marked with his trademark and J. Cook incuse.

One could spend a substantial number of hours searching through design patents looking for the original name of this pattern, and come up empty handed. Then again, one might find an exact date, and "design for the handle of a spoon." Either way, we find this early die struck... Click for details

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2352   Sold

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Baltimore circa 1850. Length 9 1/8 inches, weight 1.71 Troy ounces, attractive floral engraving, monogrammed "Clintonia."

We've checked the big bad auction site, and can't find anything similar there for under one hundred mighty dollars, so if you're a reseller, there's a good chance that you'll be able to make enough on this to buy a minor league sports team, or at the very least a small yacht.

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2339   Sold

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7 1/2 inches long, weight 1.74 oz. Troy, excellent condition, gilt bowl, no monogram, retailed by Cox Brothers.

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2331   Sold

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length 7 1/4 inches, weight .88 Troy ounces, excellent condition, monogrammed "H.B." as shown, unmarked.

The perfect gift for your hard-to-please bibliophile friend.

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2325   $275.00

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Philadelphia circa 1867, length nine inches, weight 4.06 Troy ounces, excellent condition, with massive realistically cast claw ends; bright cut and engine turned decoration, monogrammed "m".

We've owned many similar tongs over the years, but these are distinguished by the cross hatched detail inside the grasping area, which is both pleasing to the eye and practical for levitating your ice cubes.

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2311   Sold

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length 11 5/8 inches, weight 3.95 Troy ounces, monogrammed "LJA" (reverse, in period script with flourishes) as shown in third enlargement.

The quality of this engraving is above average, and it remains in fine condition.

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2299   Sold

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Philadelphia circa 1825, length 3 1/2 inches, weight .81 oz. Troy, monogrammed "JLH" in period script with flourishes. With pointed, chamfered shoulders and a flat portion at tip, these are in excellent condition and of above average quality.

Often referred to as "snuff spoons," they may also have been intended for use in children's play. We'll stay safe and simply call them miniature.

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20171227-01   NFS

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For your consideration is an interesting late 18th Century style American coin silver spoon, marked "W (pellet) D". This mark has been attributed by Catherine Hollan to Wilson Dalzell (mark B) in her book on South Carolina silversmiths. This spoon measures about 4 15/16 inches in length and weighs about 8 grams. The light weight, unusual shell-back decoration, small bowl size, mark and engraving to the handle indicate to me that it is probably American, but I don't know for sure that it... Click for details

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2249   $250.00

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length 10 3/4 inches, weight 4.02 Troy ounces, excellent condition, monogrammed as shown in enlargement number three.

Over the years, we've bought and sold many King and King's variant items in coin silver, but this is a particularly fine example in terms of form, quality, and condition.

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20170306-01   Sold

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Offered is a good American coin silver tea spoon by Philadelphia silversmith Samuel Hutchinson, working in that city circa 1828-39. This teaspoon bears a clear, well-struck maker's mark for Hutchinson, and in this case he was probably the retailer rather than the maker as the spoon also has a floret mark used by John Curry and was probably made by Curry. Like many pieces made by Curry, this has good weight and balance. It measures about 5 7/8 inches in length and weighs about 18 grams. This... Click for details

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2238   Sold

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length 7 5/8 inches, weight 1.84 Troy ounces, monogrammed as shown in second enlargement, gilt bowl, outstanding original condition. Concerning the engraving, both the quality of design and the execution are far above average.

Marked only "coin," back in the day we would have hastened to read through many musty issues of "Silver Magazine" in order to find the maker of this fine ladle, but now, in our dotage, we will leave this task to you, dear reader.