Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20160717-03   Sold

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Offered is a very rare and fairly early example of Chicago coin silver from the 1840s or 1850s, by Chicago silversmith Isaac Spear (also spelled Speer). Mr. Spear's information appears below the item description. This piece has a lightly engraved period script monogram and a good clear maker's mark. The CHICAGO city mark is scarce and difficult to find. This piece measures about 5 7/8 inches in length and weighs about 14 grams. Condition is good overall, with some slight dimples in the bowl... Click for details

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2216   $875.00

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Philadelphia circa 1795, with applied beaded border, square base, sunken center and handle offset to the corners, height 6 3/4 to top of spout; base 2 1/2 inches, weight 5.70 Troy ounces, monogrammed I * A on foot.

There is some rather sloppy soldering on the beaded border beneath the spout (I do not believe this to be a repair) which we show in agonizing detail, see image four, and the overall color indicates that there may have been either a removal or some machine polishing at one... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20160319-02   $27.50

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Offered is a fine American coin silver teaspoon made or retailed by James Cook Hanna of New Castle, Pennsylvania, circa 1850. This spoon measures about 6 inches in length and weighs about 16 grams. It is engraved "RF" in period script and has a well-struck, clear maker's mark. Condition is very good overall, with modest wear and some small bumps to the bowl. All in all a fine piece of Pennsylvania coin silver! James Cook Hanna (1826 - 1898) - Working in New Castle, Lawrence County, PA... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20160103-05   $95.00

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Offered is a gorgeous pair of American coin silver sugar tongs by Ward & Cox, a very short-lived (1811) partnership between silversmiths Jehu Ward and Benjamin Cox. This pair of sugar tongs, dating back more than two hundred years, is exceptional for its form and execution. See the pictures for the lovely detail on the grips and the fine proportions. These tongs measure about 5 5/8 inches in length, and weigh about 44 grams. The tongs bear an engraved period script monogram to the bow, and a... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20151018-03   $27.50

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Offered is an American coin silver teaspoon by Robert and William Wilson of Philadelphia, circa 1825-45, stamped CLINTON CO. to denote that this piece was used as a prize at an agricultural fair in Clinton County (not sure which state). I've had two other pieces so stamped, and eBay recently had a beaker with the same stamp; all were made by R. & W. Wilson. It appears a wide variety of silver was given away at this county fair, wherever it was held. This teaspoon also bears a period engraved... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20150822-01   $15.00

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Offered is an unusual example of an early American coin silver spoon made in the workshop of Joseph Shoemaker but also struck with a large mark of a "T" - the mark could be a journeyman's, but is so large and placed in such a way as to undercut Shoemaker's maker's mark. As such it is unlikely the mark was on the spoon when it was first marked by Shoemaker. It is possible the spoon was resold by someone else, but the most likely explanation is that it was an inventory stamp within the family. ... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20150816-03   $65.00

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Offered is a very rare example of the output of the partnership of Charles and George Fletcher of Philadelphia, brothers to the famous silversmith and proprietor Thomas Fletcher, whose firm Fletcher and Gardiner would set the standard for monumental silver for a time in Philadelphia. Charles and George united in partnership in July 1818, and dissolved their union by early 1824. Their run in business together appears to have been rather unsuccessful; aside from this teaspoon, I have observed... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20150719-06   $125.00

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Offered is an important find - an early American coin silver dessert spoon by John Beck, a silversmith working in Warrior's Mark, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania around 1824-30. This information comes from Metzgar and Whisker's "Pennsylvania Clockmakers and Watchmakers Goldsmiths and Silversmiths - A Checklist". Metzgar and Whisker also cite a reference to an 1887 history of Clarion County, which notes that one John Beck was the first watchmaker there (perhaps the late 1830s to 1840s). I have... Click for details

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2211   Sold

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New York circa 1825, length 12 1/2 inches, weight 4.52 Troy ounces, monogrammed "M" in period script with flourishes. There is a slight abrasion above the initial, and some very minor scratches in bowl as shown in enlargements three and four but the overall condition is outstanding.

Maltby Pelletreau was the second generation of this illustrious silversmithing family. His partnership with Bennett and Cook lasted only three years, so the date range for this item is pleasantly narrow. ... Click for details

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2201   Sold

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height 12 3/8 inches to top of handle; 11 1/2 to top of spout, eight lobed body with ornate floral chasing and helmet spout, weight 26 Troy ounces, some light wear to high points and a few very minor dents (these will not photograph) but fine overall condition, engraved "Presented by the Fire Department of Williamsburgh to Andrew B. Hodges, ESq., late Chief Engineere, as a Testament of their respect for his gentlemanly deportment which characterized him while in the discharge of his duty, Oct... Click for details

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2169   $1650.00

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Gale & Mosely, New York circa 1830, double struck-- for the uninitiated, this means the pattern is both front and back, length just shy of 8 1/2 inches, some very slight tine wear on a few (we've pictured the worst one in enlargement number four) but superb overall condition, weight 30.74 Troy ounces (!!) or 2.79 each on average, no monogram.

One would be hard-pressed indeed to find a better set of dinner forks.

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2148   Sold

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length 7 3/8 inches, weight 1.27 oz. Troy, retailed by Augustus Mathey, excellent condition.

Leveridge was part of a prominent New York family, many of whom were attorneys. His grandfather John William Chase Leveridge (please see fourth photo) served in the war of 1812, and upon his death in 1886 was the oldest living lawyer in the city. According to the New York Times' obituary, "he retained the full use of his faculties up to the time of his death," an accomplishment to which we all... Click for details

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2139   P.O.R.

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Philadelphia circa 1790, a fine, large and massive piece, length 14 inches, length of bowl five inches, weight 6.87 Troy ounces, marked JA struck twice in cut cornered rectangle. There is a minor fill at the edge of the bowl (please see fifth photo) and some scratches on reverse, but excellent overall condition.

This spoon is not monogrammed and does not appear ever to have been, which is most unusual for early American silver.

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2134   Sold

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round upturned end with full front midrib and thirteen-lobed shell drop, length 4 5/8 inches, engraved with initials "D N", weight .32 oz Troy, some annoying abrasions in bowl but very good overall condition.

Faithful readers of our little web page know we never tire of mentioning that Burt was a substantial and by all reports jovial fellow who weighed three hundred and eighty pounds.

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2133   Sold

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length 5 5/8 inches, weight .45 oz. Troy, pointed downturned end with rounded drop and thirteen-lobed shell below, excellent condition, monogrammed "B".

Come ye citizens of Portsmouth and reclaim thy heritage!!

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2129   $90.00

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retailer, with arrow - W - monarch maker's mark, length six inches, with short front midrib and pointy shoulders, monogrammed "Lewis".

These are substantial and well made spoons, weighing in at 4.69 oz. Troy, the lot. The overall condition is excellent. Whether any of this lends them a premium over the silver value, or whether they'll be swallowed up by the smelter's gaping maw remains to be seen...