Old Friends  
4283f   $95.00

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A very early example of Reed & Barton's "Les Cinq Fleurs," this berry spoon is large at 9" long and weighty at 3.5 T. oz.

A multi-motif, Art Nouveau, design that features orchids, narcissus, and possibly poppy on this piece, the portraiture is set in high relief and is particularly expressive.

This item is laden with provenance, reflected in the various inscriptions that appear in the gold washed bowl and handle front and backsides.

The surname "McCurdy" is engraved in Old English... Click for details

Old Friends  
4281f   On Hold

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This pair of 6" long tongs that weigh a sturdy near 2.0 T. oz., are consequential on several counts.

The first and most immediate feature is the design. They are a "French Thread" aka "Fiddle Thread" pattern with concave shells at the terminus of each arm. The shell form is repeated on the cupped grips.

The wide arch has a gentle point on either side, where it accommodates an unusual crest, which is the second outstanding aspect of this. The crest shows a helmeted knight's shoulders and... Click for details

Old Friends  
4250f   $66.00

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The pattern, "Paris" by Gorham, on this lengthy at 7 7/8" long and substantial weight at 1.7 T. oz., master butter knife was issued at the turn of the 20th century and reflects the Beaux Arts design sensibilities of the time.

Intricate and detailed, the design is set in relief and incorporates putti, a seated woman, and leaf and fruit accents on both sides of the handle and the backside heel of the curved blade with a scalloped upper edge.

There is a script "A.T.A." monogram engraved on... Click for details

Old Friends  
4240f   On Hold

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Lengthy at 8 7/8" and weighing .9 T. oz., this olive spear or pick is solid silver.

The pattern is "Thistle," which is an early 20th century Art Nouveau design made by R. Blackinton & Co.

The high relief thistle flowers and leaves run the full length of both sides of the handle, with the leaves extending onto the shoulders of the twist.

Never monogrammed, this is in flawless condition. It retains clear pattern detail that is free of any polishing wear. There are no bends or burrs, and... Click for details

Old Friends  
4236f   $95.00

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This 7 3/8" long, 1.3 T. oz., youth knife (could double as a tea or dessert piece) has a hollow handle and flat, solid silver, blunt end blade.

It was made by Gorham, whose "lion, anchor, G" emblem and the word "Sterling" are imprinted on the blade backside.

An engaging design, the handle portrays pastoral scenes, with a woman and dog tending sheep on one side, and a man on horseback with scurrying chickens on the other.

While unnamed, the internet has embraced the name "Barnyard" for... Click for details

Old Friends  
4228f   $46.00

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Watson Newell's "Orchid" is one of numerous floral designs the company produced in the early part of the 20th century that yet stand as exemplary expressions of Art Nouveau design.

This example is a 5" long, .9 T. oz., cream ladle.

The flower is fully three-dimensional, rising out of the end of handle and folding over on itself in a highly expressive manner, with trailing leaves tracing their way up the handle margins, front and back sides.

The scalloped edge bowl has a flange margin... Click for details

Old Friends  
4221f   $46.00

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A 6" long, .8 T. oz. spoon with an "Old English," i.e. "Reverse Tipt," handle, this is stamped with the "lion, K, crown" emblem of Philadelphia silversmith Peter Krider and the word "Sterling."

A sugar spoon, although it bears some similarity to an ice cream spoon, it has a plum shaped, pointed end bowl with flange shoulders and a midrib down the center.

Likely dating from the 1870s, this exhibits the exquisite bright cut engraving for which Philadelphia silver of the period was renowned.... Click for details

Old Friends  
4202f   $52.00

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Lengthy at 7 5/8", this weighty, 1.3 T. oz., solid silver master butter knife is slender and graceful in design.

It has a thick, arched, plain handle with a "Tipt" end and a feathered script "B" monogram, along with a scalloped upper edge blade.

Dating circa 1870, it is marked "Sterling" and "Deming & Gundlach" for the Hartford, Connecticut partnership that was the 1859 successor to Walter Pitkin.

In exceptionally fine condition, the piece shows no significant wear or damage. The finish... Click for details

Old Friends  
4198f   $245.00

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An estate piece long held in one family, this chamber stick is a significant example of its form. It is stamped for London, 1801-2, sterling, and Robert Sharp, who is identified in Jackson's Hallmarks as an "important maker." Grimwade's London's Goldsmiths affords him a lengthy biographical entry.

It is large, with a base that measures 5 1/2" in diameter, 7" to the end of the solid finger grip, and stands 4" tall.

Solid silver, it weighs 9.4 T. oz.

The base has a raised... Click for details

Old Friends  
4197f   This item is currently being auctioned

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As a body, Philadelphia silver manufacturers of the second half of the 19th century exhibited great capacities in engraved design.

The quality of that work is exhibited on this 7 1/4" long, just over 1.0 T. oz., master butter knife stamped "Sterling" and "McCarty & Hurlbert" for the Philadelphia jeweler and manufacturer, 1876 successor to "Butler & McCarty," founded in 1849.

Both the "Old English" with reverse tipt end and the broad, notched, blade are extensively engraved in an Aesthetic... Click for details

Old Friends  
4195f   $285.00

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The quality of design and execution evident in this 7 1/2" tall, weighty at 6.8 T. oz., solid silver muffineer aka sugar shaker or castor bespeaks the reputation of its maker and the jeweler who retailed it.

Redlich & Co., whose "lion" emblem appears on the underside, traces to George Shiebler through one of its two cofounders, Adolph Ludwig, who was a designer with the latter firm.

Grogan & Co., also imprinted on the underside, was a carriage trade Pittsburgh jeweler, with it and Redlich... Click for details

Old Friends  
4181f   $395.00

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It is unusual to find an intact set of twelve ice spoons along with their original serving knife, aka slice, and even more so to have the set in such pristine condition as this group.

Made by Frank Smith, whose early "S in a circle" mark and "sterling" are imprinted on the backside of all pieces, along with the name of the retailer, "Worcester & Co.," Lowell, Massachusetts.

The server measures 10" long and weighs 2.7 T. oz., while each of the spoons is 5 3/4" long with the twelve weighing... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20200329-05   $15.00

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Offered is a lovely Victorian English sterling silver master salt spoon by the noted firm of James and Josiah Williams of Bristol, England (though because Bristol had no assay office most of their silver was hallmarked at the Exeter assay office. Their information appears below. This piece is fully hallmarked as having been assayed at Exeter in 1865, and bears a clear maker's mark. It also has a nice engraved period script monogram. This master salt spoon measures about 3 13/16 inches in... Click for details

Old Friends  
4159f   $130.00

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A popular motif from the 1880s, engraved versions of "Lily," actually "Lily of the Valley" with Aesthetic detailing, were produced by multiple manufacturers.

This matched set of eight, 5 15/16" long, 4.0 T. oz. the group, oyster, shrimp, or simply seafood, cocktail forks were made by Frank Whiting whose "W in a circle" and "Sterling" are imprinted on the reverses.

The handles are an "Antique" pattern with rounded ends and tipt backsides.

The fronts have satin matte finishes, which sets... Click for details

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2419   Sold

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width 11 1/4; depth 6 inches, excellent original condition, no monogram, weight 23.4 Troy ounces (!), please see fifth enlargement for mark. The ink holder is a hand wrought gilt sterling (modern) replacement, which we think an improvement over the original which was glass.

A William C. Codman design, identical examples may be found in both the Jolie and Robert Shelton Collection, "Magnificent, Marvelous Martelé," pp. 498-9 and the MFA Boston, accession number 2001.804

Old Friends  
4137f   On Hold

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Measuring 8" long and weighing approximately 2.5 T. oz., this ladle is larger than a gravy and is likely for bouillon. It has a large, plum-shaped, 2 1/2" diameter, 1" deep, bowl with a central vee, flange shoulders, and a matte gold finish on the interior.

The arched handle is an "Old English" pattern with a "Reverse Tipt" end. The front has a satin finish and is extensively engraved in a floral (anemone) and leaf design.

The engraving extends onto the flange of the bowl, and into the... Click for details