Old Friends  
4339f   $48.00

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A substantially sized item that measures 7 1/2" long and weighs just under 1.4 T. oz., this master butter knife traces to mid 19th century Boston.

It is stamped "Shreve, Brown & Co.," which was an 1857-60 partnership in the chain of evolution for the firm that eventually became Boston's carriage trade "Shreve, Crump & Low."

It is also marked "Sterling," which is early for this period when coin silver was the prevailing silver standard.

The handle is an upturned "Oval Thread," plain on... Click for details

Old Friends  
4338f   $70.00

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Dating from the mid 19th century, this preserve or jelly spoon measures 7 1/4" long and weighs 1.0 T. oz.

It is stamped on the backside of the handle "J.E. Caldwell & Co." for the renowned Philadelphia jeweler and retailer of fine goods, and "Pure Coin," suggesting this piece may have been sourced from a New England manufacturer, given this term was typically used in that area.

It has a twisted central stem, with a broad, plum-shaped, tipt backside, end that is extensively engraved with... Click for details

Old Friends  
4337f   $125.00

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An unnamed pattern identified as "Number 128" by one source, the design on this pair of 4 1/8" long, relatively heavy .8 T. oz., sugar tongs, aka nips, features open, double lined, handles, with a cluster of grapes or other berries hanging in the center.

Made by Georg Jensen, whose work essentially launched the Danish Modern design movement in silver, this is stamped with an early "GI" maker's mark, "Sterling," and "Denmark."

The arms are solid, square, decorated with leaf and berry... Click for details

Old Friends  
4336f   $24.00

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The Baltimore Museum of Art volume Maryland Silver offers considerable reference material about Littleton Holland, 1770-1847, a silversmith and citizen of note in Baltimore and the maker of this 5 1/8" long, just over .3 T. oz. (10 grams), teaspoon.

This is an early piece, stamped "Holland" and with a peculiar-to-Baltimore, three part assay mark for 1817, although the above work notes, "It has not been possible to make a firm differentation between the 1817 and 1823 Assay Office... Click for details

Old Friends  
4335f   $85.00

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A mid 19th century, 8 3/4" long, approximately 2.0 T. oz., berry or other serving spoon, this piece is marked "Tice & Co.," presumably for Brooklyn, New York jeweler, William R. Tice. The only other firm that incorporates this surname cited in references is "Huntington & Tice," Cincinnati, and not a likely match for this.

The pattern is an "Oval Thread" with the name "Julia Atwater" inscribed sideways in cursive lettering on the handle front.

The generously-sized bowl is shell form with a... Click for details

Old Friends  
4334f   $40.00

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An elegant and complex raised shell, bead, and leaf, design, Wallace's "Sappho" was issued in 1895.

This example, a 6 7/8" long, just under 1.4 T. oz., tea or dessert fork was a gift item.

The front reads in cursive lettering, "To Carrie," while the backside is inscribed "From Mother Dec. 4th 98."

A charming piece on its own, the memorialization of the affection Mother held for Carrie evidenced in this transforms a simple implement into a touchstone that enshrines their lives in a... Click for details

Old Friends  
4332f   On Hold

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The English inspired design on this exceptionally large, 11 1/4" long, 5.3 T. oz., serving fork is typically identified as "King" or "Kings" in American convention, but as clarified in Catherine Hollan's comprehensive Philadelphia Silversmiths, it is technically a "Queen with honeysuckle" pattern (illustration page 250).

Of uncertain intent, this mid 19th century form was clearly of a scale suitable for use as a banquet item.

The serving end has five broad tines joined to a pierced... Click for details

Old Friends  
4331f   $34.00

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A deeply textured scroll and bead design, Reed & Barton's "La Marquise" was introduced in 1895.

A weighty line, this 6" long sugar spoon weighs fractionally more than 1.0 T. oz.

It has a decorative bowl with a rippled rim and a tumble of chrysanthemum blossoms and leaves in the heel and upper edge, front and back sides.

Never monogrammed, this remains in flawless estate condition, showing no evidence of wear or use and having a bright finish.

Marks are Reed & Barton's "bird, R,... Click for details

Old Friends  
4330f   $38.00

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With registration dates from the 1750s, the "WC over WW with a pellet" mark, accompanied by a "lion," on this 4 11/16" long, .4 T. oz. spoon stands for the partnership of London silversmiths Thomas Devonshire and William Watkins.

Given the handle is narrow, the mark is only partially imprinted, but still distinct enough for a certain attribution.

The handle is upturned, i.e. "Hanoverian," and shows two monograms. One on the reverse reads "H over W*M," in block lettering which is original,... Click for details

Old Friends  
4328f   On Hold

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An elegant item that measures 8 3/8" long and weighs approximately 1.5 T. oz., this berry spoon has a twisted stem, broad, finely engraved handle end, and a bright, gold washed bowl that has raised fruit and leaves with chased detailing.

It is stamped with the telltale "arrow in an oval" symbol that was used by the 1867-73 partnership of "(Albert) Schohay & (Adolph) Ludwig," Philadelphia, and the word "Coin."

The handle has a high style, leaf script, "JEC" monogram.

In pristine... Click for details

Old Friends  
4327f   $275.00

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Original, early examples of Alvin's Art Nouveau "Old Orange Blossom" pattern, each of these six, matching, 5 1/8" long, 4.1 T. oz. the group, ice cream forks has an upturned end, a flowing script "FPS" monogram on the handle front, and is marked with the company's three part emblem, "Sterling," and "Patent," all in fine, precise lettering.

Ice cream forks, they are basically spoons with three tines (hence frequently called "sporks," a term that is too cute by far). The bowls have cupped,... Click for details

Old Friends  
4325f   $185.00

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The Whiting pattern on this 10 1/4" long, weighty at 5.1 T. oz., oyster or small soup ladle was introduced in 1890 and is known by several names including singular and plural variations of "Rose & Scroll" as well as "LaFrance" and "LaFrancais."

The arched handle has a smooth, polished, surface that is essentially carved with clusters of, appropriate to the name, rose blossoms and scrolls.

The 3 1/2" by 3" by 1 1/8" deep bowl has a scalloped edge, embossed interior, and retains traces of an... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20200819-02   Sold

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Offered is a very beat-up and repaired pair of early 19th Century American coin silver sugar tongs with acorn-style grips, marked R.Wilson in script on one arm. I believe this is one of the early marks used by noted silversmith Robert Wilson in his New York period (circa 1800-10), before he moved to Philadelphia and joined William Wilson in partnership. But, perhaps there was another R.Wilson working around this time. In any event, this piece has a rubbed but still legible maker's mark (see... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20200819-01   $15.00

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Offered is a beat-up American coin silver spoon with a scarce mark of FOWLE&KIRKLAND in a serrated punch, used by the Northampton, MA partnership of Nathaniel Fowle and Samuel Warner Kirkland, circa 1828-33. This piece has a rubbed but legible maker's mark and a period engraved script monogram. This spoon measures about 5 3/4 inches in length, and weighs about 15 grams. Condition is pretty poor overall, but it would be a shame to consign this to the smelter. All in all a nice Northampton... Click for details

Old Friends  
4324f   $300.00

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The design of this 3 1/4" tall, 2 3/4" top diameter, 3 3/4" wide to the handle end, weighty, 4.5 T. oz., mug reflects the colonial and Georgian revivalist design motifs that arose in the early decades of the 20th century.

Marked "Tiffany & Co.," "Sterling Silver," and "925-1000," it also stamped with the model number "16260" on the underside (as well as production number "2721"), along with an "m." The model was introduced in 1905 and the "m" came into use in 1907, so this likely dates to... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20200818-01   Sold

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Offered is a very rare example of the mark of silversmith and watchmaker Charles G. Taylor (b. 1827 - d. 1894), who was raised and trained as a watchmaker in Philadelphia, but who moved to Virginia and set up shop in Fairmont, Virginia (now W. Va), circa 1852, working there until about 1861, whereupon he moved to Richmond for a few years, departing for Sedalia, Missouri at the close of the war in 1865. He remained in business in Sedalia until his death in 1894. He served several terms as a... Click for details