Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20230728-01   Sold

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Offered is a very nice American coin silver teaspoon by the noted New Haven, CT partnership of Marcus Merriman and Zebul Bradley, working as Merriman & Bradley from 1817 to 1826. This spoon is engraved in period script with the initials "BS" and has a legible maker's mark, as well as a very interesting pseudo-hallmark of a star or sun, which doesn't normally appear on this partnership's silver, and which is not documented in McGrew's "Manufacturers' Marks on American Coin Silver". This spoon... Click for details

Old Friends  
5371f   On Hold

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This lengthy at 6", approximately .5 T. oz., coin silver spoon dating circa 1830, is one of five available matching pieces all marked "Church & Rogers."

Born in 1794, Joseph Church established himself as a silversmith in Hartford, Connecticut in 1818 and in 1825 took on his former apprentice Joseph Rogers as a partner.

Rogers went on to become a legendary figure in the history of Connecticut plate and sterling silver manufacturing, lending his name to several companies that ultimately... Click for details

Old Friends  
5366f   $285.00

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One of Gorham's earliest full line patterns, Grecian was produced to a coin silver standard beginning in 1861 and then continued in sterling from 1868 onward.

This example is marked only "Patent 1861" and with Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem absent a sterling designation, thus indicating it is coin.

It is also the largest iteration of a ladle in this line and is for soup. In keeping with mid 19th century practice for this sort of item, it measures a massive 14" long and weighs 6.1... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20230722-01   Sold

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Offered is a fine American coin silver teaspoon by clockmaker, watchmaker and silversmith David Weatherly. Weatherly was born circa 1778 in England and worked in Philadelphia from about 1805 until his death in 1850. This piece measures about 5 5/8 inches in length and weighs about 11 grams. It is engraved with a lovely period script monogram of "AG" (the chemical symbol for silver!) and has a well-struck maker's mark. This piece is in good condition with very little wear and no dents (aside from... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20230721-03   $28.00

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Offered is a really nicely made and preserved American coin silver teaspoon by noted silversmith Isaac Garrison, circa the 1850s. Mr. Garrison had a spoon and fork manufactory for a time, and made coin silver flatware both for his own retail operation as well as a wholesaler to many regional jewelers. This spoon bears one of his wholesaler marks, but it may have been sold by Mr. Garrison's shop given the absence of a retailer's mark. This piece also has a well-done period engraved script... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20230721-02   Sold

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Offered is a good American coin silver teaspoon by Montpelier, VT silversmith and jeweler Ira Strong Town (1810-1902), working there from about 1825 on. This teaspoon probably dates to the 1825-45 period. It is engraved with a period script monogram and has a good strike of one of Mr. Town's maker's marks. This spoon measures about 6 1/8 inches in length and weighs about 14 grams. Condition overall is very good, with a stubborn tarnish spot and the bowl being very slightly out of round, but... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20230721-01   Sold

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Offered is a very nice and rare American coin silver teaspoon by noted Washington, PA silversmith Jacob Schaffer (bio below), circa 1820-30. This piece has a period engraved script "DN" monogram. It measures about 5 3/4 inches in length and weighs about 14 grams. Condition is fairly good, with some surface wear and abrasions, and some wear to the monogram, but no dents, splits or repairs. All in all a nice example of the sought-after maker's mark!

Per a news story in the Washington... Click for details

Old Friends  
5358f   $65.00

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This pair of coin silver tongs are generously sized at 6 1/4" long and weigh 1.2 T. oz.

Each arm is stamped "F. [for Foster] Tinkham," born in Middleboro, Massachusetts, in 1803, and documented working in New York City in 1840, the approximate date of this piece, as a jeweler and watchmaker. He had returned to Massachusetts by 1855.

The arms are Fiddle shaped, which is a style consistent with their period.

The grips are shell form, and the arch is engraved in a very elegant... Click for details

Old Friends  
5354f   On Hold

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This set of six, 6" long, 3.0 T. oz. the group, coin silver spoons are all marked "Root & Chaffee" along with a right facing "eagle" emblem.

William Root and Frederick Chaffee were located in Pittsfield, in the Berkshires region of Western Massachusetts, and were in partnership 1830-1849.

These have Fiddle handles with Tipt backs and are all engraved in fancy, feathered script, lettering, "E T Boyd" on the fronts.

In very good condition, they are free of wear or damage... Click for details

Old Friends  
5350f   $365.00

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Standing 2 7/8" high, with a top diameter of 2 3/8" and a bottom diameter of 1 7/8", a maximum span of 3 5/8" to the end of the handle, and weighing a relatively light but proportional to the overall size, 2.8 T. oz., this mug is marked "WwH" for Wood and Hughes, New York City, and "900/1000" for coin silver.

Baluster form, it has a beaded base with smaller beading encircling the top rim. The area of the body opposite the C scroll, hollow handle is chased in a floral (perhaps hibiscus)... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20230702-06   $20.00

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Offered is a nice American coin silver cream ladle or sauce ladle by noted New York City jeweler Seymour Hoyt, circa 1840. This piece has Hoyt's mark as well as an address mark and a journeyman's trade mark. It is also engraved in period script with the owner's initials. This piece measures about 6 1/4 inches in length and weighs about 30 grams. Condition is good overall, with some surface wear but no splits or repairs. All in all a nice useable example!

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20230702-05   $20.00

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Offered is a nice American coin silver cream ladle by a little-documented East Hartford, CT partnership between Walter M. Pitkin and Henry D. Sumner, and bearing each of their marks, flanking an American eagle manufacturer's mark. This piece is engraved 'Julia Ann' in period script. It measures about six inches in length and weighs about 19 grams. Condition is fairly good, with some surface wear to the bowl and a few small dings and bends from normal use, but no splits or repairs. All in all... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20230702-03   Sold

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Offered is a highly unusual and rare American coin silver ladle from the 1830-50 period by Philadelphia silversmith Thomas Wriggins, which has a shell to the handle and a repoussé Peruvian National Coat of arms, or National Shield (Escudo Nacional). Per Peruvian law, "The arms of the Peruvian Nation shall consist of a shield divided into three fields: one celestial blue to the right, with a vicuna looking inside; other white to the left, with a Cinchona officinalis placed within, and another,... Click for details

Old Friends  
5341f   $38.00

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This coin silver teaspoon measures 5 7/8" long and weighs just under .5 T. oz. (14 grams).

It is marked "Benedict & Scudder" over "New York," a partnership dating 1828-36, with Andrew Comstock Benedict, who also worked independently, the more prominent and lasting name in silversmithing of the two.

The end of the handle features a raised Basket of Flowers. This, along with the Sheaf of Wheat motif, were two popular embellishments on the otherwise largely plain designs on... Click for details

Old Friends  
5338f   On Hold

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Dating from the mid 19th century, these two teaspoons measure 5 13/16" long each and weigh just under 1.0 T. oz. combined.

Coin silver and so marked, along with the name of the retailer, "H.H. Ladd & Co.," Manchester, New Hampshire, they are matching pieces.

Each one has a Tipt end with a leaf and scroll design engraved on the front sides. There is a reserve area, which is inscribed with a fancy Old English "F" monogram in each instance.

Slender and gracefully... Click for details

Old Friends  
5333f   This item is currently being auctioned

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This item traces to mid 19th Baltimore and reflects the character of early silver from that city.

Sugar tongs, they measure 5" long, and at 1.7 T. oz., are exceptionally heavy for their size.

Stamped "S. Kirk & Son" and "10.15" for the peculiar-to-Baltimore silver standard that is essentially equivalent to coin, each arm is chased in a high relief flower and leaf design that is akin to Kirk's holloware of the period, as illustrated, for example, in Maryland Silver published... Click for details