Old Friends  
5499f   $195.00

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While this matched pair of large pieces, namely a 9" long, 2.73 T. oz. fork, and a 9 1/8" long, 2.67 T. oz., spoon, form a salad serving set, they could easily be adapted individually for any number of purposes.

The spoon for example would work as a casserole, rice, or fruit server, and the fork would work as a vegetable or entree server.

Made by Reed & Barton, whose "eagle, R, bird" emblem, "Sterling," and "Pat. Jan 6 1893" are stamped on the handle backs in fine lettering (see... Click for details

Old Friends  
5496f   This item is currently being auctioned

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A pattern with a history rooted in the Aesthetic movement, Tiffany's original Japanese (to be distinguished from later produced and renamed Audubon) was the first of numerous American flatware patterns to be issued in a multi-motif bird motif, as indicated by William Hood writing in Tiffany Silver Flatware.

Drawing upon research provided by Gorham scholar Sam Hough, Hood further notes, "In this same period [1869] Tiffany and Gorham started to conceive of producing... Click for details

Old Friends  
5490f   $70.00

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Outstanding among the various Medallion patterns produced during the 1860s, Gorham's version was the one chosen by Tiffany & Co. to offer under its retail banner.

This factor may explain the reason why it was more often than not made to a sterling silver standard, which Tiffany required, versus the typical coin of the period.

This 5 7/8" long, .8 T. oz., sugar spoon mirrors this practice. It is marked with a "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Pat. 1864," "Gorham & Co.," and "Sterling" on... Click for details

Old Friends  
5486f   $65.00

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George Sharp's Ball pattern is arguably the most well known of any number of 1860s designs that incorporated a sphere, cube, orb, or other similar form, usually surmounting a tubular or faceted shank.

It was produced in a wide variety of pieces, from large servers to items as small as a master salt spoon or this, a 5" long, .3 T. oz., nut pick.

It is an early piece, marked "Patent 1863 Pending" and "Bailey & Co.," for the Philadelphia retailer with whom Sharp was closely... Click for details

Old Friends  
5485f   $46.00

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A firm with a long chronology in Albany, New York, the origins of Hall, Hewson & Brower traced to 1810, with the last configuration of the firm ending in 1898.

The company operated under several names in the above span of years, two of which, the three part "HH & B with an eagle" emblem of Hall, Hewson & Brower, and "S.D. Brower & Son," are present on this 8 1/2" long, 1.35 T. oz., serving spoon.

It is also marked "Sterling 925," which would be unexpected in the circa 1850 period of this... Click for details

Old Friends  
5484f   $90.00

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Gorham's numbered series were specially designed and produced items made to a higher standard than typical line pieces.

This late 19th century example of such work is No. 412, which is a 5" long, weighty at 1.5 T. oz., bon bon spoon.

The handle is cast, which technique enables a level of detail not achievable in a typical die struck item. Casting also produces a unique finish, which in this instance is softly grained.

The pattern on 412 incorporates flowers and acanthus... Click for details

Old Friends  
5482f   $165.00

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Robust, this pair of ice tongs measure 7 1/8" long and weigh a substantial 2.9 T. oz.

Well suited to their function, they have a cupped and pierced shell grip at the end of one arm, and a highly articulated claw or talon grip on the flanking arm.

The pattern is Gorham's Buckingham which bears a strong resemblance to the company's companion and immensely successful Chantilly line that was introduced fifteen years earlier.

It could be argued the two patterns are variants of... Click for details

Old Friends  
5477f   $45.00

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The smaller of two sizes of lettuce forks that Durgin produced in its Louis XV pattern, this piece measures 7 7/8" long and weighs approximately 1.0 T. oz.

It has three tines joined to a plain, cupped, heel. The outer two are splayed.

Issued in 1891, the design is French Rococo in manner with rocaille embellishments set in high relief.

This was originally finished with an overall gold wash, i.e. vermeil, but much of that has been polished away.

Never monogrammed, it is... Click for details

Old Friends  
5476f   $60.00

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An American variant upon the English Kings pattern, Dominick & Haff's Charles II features a convex shell on the handle front with a honeysuckle ornament and a heavily beaded border. The backside has a concave shell on the end with the same beaded border as the front, and is otherwise plain.

There is a lined script "R" monogram engraved in the area between the shell and honeysuckle.

This example is a 6 1/8" long, 1.1 T. oz.,... Click for details

Old Friends  
5472f   $185.00

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This 7" long, very heavy at 2.28 T. oz., fork is notable for several reasons.

Evolving from the immediately preceding 17th century English Trefid style with a three-lobed handle tip, this is a turn of the 18th century Dognose piece with a single, extended, slightly upturned, knobbed end.

Scarce items, Dognose forks are all the more so relative to spoons.

This has an interesting, and telling to anyone versed in such things, crest on the handle backside that portrays... Click for details

Old Friends  
5465f   $44.00

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Designed to reach deep into a narrow mouth container, a horseradish scoop or spoon generally has a relatively long and narrow handle and a paddle-like end.

This example made by Towle in its 1893 Canterbury follows that form and is fully original, i.e. not made up or custom as many such pieces currently available are. It measures 6 1/4" long, weighs an unexpectedly heavy .5 T. oz., and has the requisite cupped bowl with a rounded end.

As befits the name, Canterbury is a... Click for details

Old Friends  
5461f   $265.00

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Model number "A9969," as stamped on the underside, along with Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, the word "Sterling," and the name of the retailer, Boston's "Bigelow, Kennard & Co.," this flat-bottomed, oval tray measures 8 1/4" long by 5 1/2" wide and weighs a relatively heavy 6.8 T. oz.

A highly decorative item, the uplifted and rounded walls have a 5/8" wide banded rim, which has a beaded margin bordering a chased design of repeating urns, rosettes, acanthus leaves and fan... Click for details

Old Friends  
5460f   $65.00

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The longest master salt spoon that Kirk made in its flagship Repousse pattern, each of these two, matched, examples measures 3 3/4". They weigh a relatively heavy .96 T. oz. the pair.

Never monogrammed, they have plain backs save for the marks, which are "S. Kirk & Son," which Rainwater dates 1932-61, along with "Sterling."

In spite of their considerable age, they are in exceptionally fine condition, showing no evidence they were ever used. The pattern is sharply defined, the bowls... Click for details

Old Friends  
5456f   $85.00

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Designed by Antoine Heller, renowned for his Beaux Arts figural patterns such as Versailles, Fontainebleau and Mythologique, equally commanding St. Cloud is by contrast non-figural.

Its leaf and anthemion subject, with tight, circular, elements reminiscent of fern fronds suggests Aesthetic influences, which is in keeping with its 1885 date of introduction.

This item is a 6" long, just under 1.0 T. oz. (30 grams), ice cream spoon.

The bowl is... Click for details

Old Friends  
5455f   $55.00

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Issued in 1900, Alvin's Majestic is a multi floral pattern that features one of eight different flowers on each piece.

This example is the larger of two sizes of sugar tongs available in the line. It measures 5" long and weighs a robust 1.3 T. oz.

The flower is iris, which appears at the top and mid portions of the handle, and impressively, on the talon form grips.

The margins of the handle and lower section show trailing, sinuous, leaves, all in keeping with the Art... Click for details

Old Friends  
5452f   $65.00

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This 6 3/8" long, just over 1.0 T. oz. (32 grams), sugar spoon was hand made by Old Newbury Crafters, whose "ONC" mark and the word "Sterling" appear on the backside. It likely dates prior to 1955, the time when ONC began the practice of including individual craftsmen's symbols alongside other identifiers.

The pattern is Panel Antique or possibly the similar Moulton. It has a slender, elongated, handle, with chamfered margins and a Tipt backside and overall subtle... Click for details