Old Friends  
2169dd   $85.00

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Fully marked for Birmingham, Sterling, 1837, and "J.W" for Joseph Willimore, this ladle measures 6 3/8" long and has a 1 1/2" diameter, 5/8" deep, round bowl.

The rimmed lip bowl, and lower portion and tip of the handle are sterling silver, with the remainder of the handle being baleen.

The majority of examples of this form are much lengthier toddy ladles. This would have been for some other purpose.

There is no monogram or inscription, or removal of same.

It is in good... Click for details

Old Friends  
2166f   $48.00

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Reflecting an Arts & Crafts sensibility, this 4 3/8" long, approximately .7 T. oz., sardine fork likely dates from early in the 20th century.

It is marked "F&G" in an oval and "Sterling."

The handle is cast with a grooved center. This resembles a stem. This in turn has an applied, again cast, floral and leaf form attached at the end. This has a tail that resembles a tendril wrapped around the handle.

The 2 1/8" wide serving end has five, broad tines.

The condition is... Click for details

Old Friends  
2162dd   $60.00

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A charming item, this 4 1/4" long, just over .3 T. oz. total weight, (baby) food pusher is stamped with the "sword through B" mark of Blackinton, along with the word "Sterling."

The pattern is rococo in style and incorporates scrolls and florettes along its asymmetrical border. This frames a white enamel ground that itself contains a pair of purple lilies with trailing green leaves. The canted blade has a flat end and scalloped edges. The entire piece apart from the enamel is finished is... Click for details

Old Friends  
2158f   $45.00

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Measuring 4 3/4" long and weighing just over .6 T. oz., this bon bon, also referenced as a nut or confection spoon, was made by Gorham.

The pattern is "Imperial Chrysanthemum," which is a highly detailed floral design tending toward the Art Nouveau in style.

This is a particularly fine example. It has a delicate script "P" monogram on the front. There is no evident polishing wear and the bowl remains well-shaped and retains most of its original gold wash finish.

Marks are Gorham's... Click for details

Old Friends  
2155f   $45.00

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Dominick & Haff produced its figural "Renaissance" pattern in solid and pierced versions, with solid being the common form. This 5 5/8" long, relatively heavy 1.0 T. oz., grapefruit, aka fruit or orange, spoon is pierced. The open version is invariably marked with the name of Boston's "Bigelow, Kennard & Co.," and that is the case with this piece.

It has a script "M" monogram on the handle and retains a pale residue of its original gold wash.

It is in excellent condition, free of... Click for details

Old Friends  
2153f   $365.00

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Wendt's "Medallion" was one of the most highly regarded of this genre of designs produced by numerous silver manufacturers in the 1860s. The portraiture is of a youthful, helmeted male warrior set in a knob-end oval with a lined backdrop.

This example is a large, 8 1/2" long, heavy, approximately 2.3 T. oz., cheese scoop. It has a twist stem and broad, swooping scoop. This possesses a robust quality, with a thick shank, and strongly defined detailing.

It is in excellent condition. ... Click for details

Old Friends  
2152f   $22.00

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At 4 3/8" long, this spoon may be classified as either an after-dinner coffee or a demitasse.

The pattern is Dominick & Haff's "Renaissance," which is a heavy line and that is the case with this which weighs a substantial .5 T. oz. The design features a bearded figure on the front of the handle and the heel of the bowl. The bowl in this instance has a gold wash finish.

It is in mint condition and without a monogram or removal. The pattern detail remains well-defined and is free of... Click for details

Hampton Galleries  
7352B   $250.00

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Coin silver gravy ladle by Abraham Gerritze Forbes, New York City (c. 1785-1795), 8-7/8” long, deep 2-¼” circular bowl, downturned oval end handle, beautiful diamond cut bright cut design on edges of handle and making oval cartouche at end with unusual three-masted sailing ship crest under banner “SPERO MELIORA” (I hope for better things), marked in script “A.Forbes” in serrated shaped cartouche.

Old Friends  
2150f   $85.00

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Stamped "Tiffany & Co. Makers," "Sterling Silver," "925-1000," and with a lower case "m," this master salt was put into production in 1902 as indicated by the model number "15251."

This was a period when Tiffany made reproduction items or designs inspired by older, especially English Georgian, holloware, and that is the case with this piece. It is round, cauldron shaped, and stands on three pad feet with acanthus leaf sprays where the legs are attached.

There is a rolled rim upper edge... Click for details

Old Friends  
2148f   $55.00

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Towle employed a novel serving end for jelly knives in several late 19th century patterns, one of which was "Canterbury." This 7 1/4" long, 1.1 T. oz., piece has an elongated, gold washed, blade with a cupped base, curvilinear sides, and decorated shoulders that repeat the same bead and scroll motif of the handle.

It is in excellent condition and without a monogram or removal. Apart from some worn spots in the gold on the interior of the blade, there are no signs of use.

Marks are the... Click for details

Old Friends  
2147f   $65.00

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Measuring 6" in diameter and 1/8" high, this trivet is stamped "Webster Sterling" and with the company arrow through a "CW" on the edge. It is silver overlay engraved in a floral pattern on glass.

These were particularly popular in the first part of the 20th century, and that is the likely period for this.

It is in excellent condition. There are no chips or cracks in the glass. The silver is intact, free of lifting or marring.

Old Friends  
2146f   $155.00

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William Hood comments extensively on this unusual Tiffany "Vine" (Gourd), 5 13/16" long, .9 T. oz., spoon in his benchmark reference work, "Tiffany Silver Flatware."

He suggests it might be a pap spoon, noting it is a "rare and undocumented piece" that has "an unusually shaped bowl, . . . the sides tapering in width from 13/16 to 5/16 in., and forming a scoop. The narrowness of the scoop suggests it might be used to feed babies. This specimen is one of only three of this piece type we have... Click for details

Old Friends  
2144f   $85.00

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In the same genre as Whiting and Tiffany's "Japanese" and Wendt's "Bird," Wood & Hughes 1875 "Celestial" may be the most explicitly Asian inspired in its portraiture given the pagoda-like detailing around the handle end.

Otherwise the design follows after this group of patterns in featuring a bird image set amid a leafy surround. The degree of detail is precise and finely rendered, with all the elements laid upon a stippled ground.

This example is an 8 5/8" long, relatively heavy at 1.8... Click for details

Old Friends  
2143f   $32.00

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Patented in 1894, Gorham's "King George" was that company's most successful "King" iteration.

This piece is a 4 3/4" long, relative heavy at approximately .7 T. oz., egg spoon. It has a fine "OEEA" feathered script monogram on the handle front and is inscribed "1908" on the handle backside.

It is in very fine condition. Pattern detail remains well-defined and the finish is lustrous. The ovoid bowl is free of dents, nicks, or burrs.

Marks are Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem,... Click for details

Old Friends  
2142f   $60.00

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Perhaps the least common of condiment servers (a category which includes mustard ladles and horseradish spoons), chow chow aka picalilli spoons characteristically have narrow, deep bowls, and often relatively long handles.

This 6 5/8" long, .9 T. oz., example is in "Old Colonial" by Towle. It is an early and fully authentic, i.e. original production, piece marked with the company emblem, "925/1000," "Pat. 1894," and the name of the retailer, "W. Arnold."

The bowl is gold washed while... Click for details

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2199   $90.00

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exquisite and desirable LOUIS XV pattern, length 8 1/4 inches, weight 4.91 Troy ounces, fine condition.

We were going to send these straight into the smelter's gaping maw, but then thought that perhaps just perhaps there might be an Agnes or three who'd want to see herself immortalized on a spoon...