Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
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This American coin silver tablespoon dating to about 1820-40 is not for sale, but rather one that I need some help with. It measures about 9 1/8 inches in length and weighs about 50 grams. It has a faint period script engraved monogram running across the top of the handle, and a maker's mark of D.G in a rectangular punch. This piece has a mid-Atlantic or Midwestern feel, though it could be from some places in the American South outside of the major cities. It is almost certainly not by David... Click for details

Old Friends  
4179f   $85.00

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Lengthy at 6 1/16" each, and weighing 2.4 T. oz. the lot, these four matching spoons date from the mid 19th century.

They have broad, upturned handles with "Tipt" ends, with the name "Maggie" finely engraved in script set sideways on them.

The shoulders off the bowls are high, chamfered, and rounded, while the backside heel drops are smooth.

They are stamped on the reverses "J.G. Griswold" (Johnson Gage), "Hartford," and with a right facing "eagle," which John R. McGrew in his... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20200329-03   Sold

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Offered is a very scarce example of the maker's mark or retailer's mark of John P. Shinckle, working in Philadelphia around 1825 for a short period. This piece has a clear maker's or retailer's mark, as well as a floret mark usually associated with John Curry. This spoon also features a period engraved script monogram. The mark on this spoon was used for the book "Philadelphia Silversmiths" by Catherine Hollan. This piece measures about 6 inches in length and weighs about 18 grams. ... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20200329-02   Sold

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Offered is a rare American coin silver teaspoon bearing the mark of a Minnesota jeweler, D. C. Greenleaf, working in St. Paul between the mid-1850s and his death around 1880. Although a 25-year old jeweler by the name of D.C. Greenleaf was recorded in the 1860 census for Shelby County, Tennessee, it is more likely that this spoon and mark relate to the Minnesota man, who had a long and successful career. In addition to clear marks, this spoon features a period engraved monogram. This piece... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20200329-01   $17.50

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Offered is a nice American coin silver teaspoon by Philadelphia silversmith Jacob Stockman, working alone and in partnership circa 1819 to 1850 as a silversmith and pencil and thimble maker, and from 1850-55 as a pencil-maker and jeweler. This spoon has a well-struck maker's mark and a rubbed but legible period engraved script monogram. The maker's mark on this spoon is one of Jacob Stockman's more scarce marks. This piece measures about 6 1/8 inches in length and weighs about 22 grams. ... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20200328-05   $27.50

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Offered is a lovely Newport coin silver spoon by Rhode Island silversmith William Stoddard Nichols (b. 1785 - d. 1871), who was born and died in Newport, and who worked there as a silversmith and jeweler at least from 1808 into the 1860s. This piece has a clear maker's mark for Nichols, a full location mark for Newport, RI, and a fineness mark of PURE COIN. All of the marks are clear and legible (see all the pictures for closeups of the marks). This piece also features a period engraved... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20200328-04   $35.00

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Offered is a good Philadelphia coin silver spoon bearing the extremely rare mark of John & Phineas Fries, circa 1837 (the single year of their partnership). While coin silver spoons and other items bearing only the maker's mark of John Fries are somewhat common, and those with just Phineas Fries' maker's mark are scarce but not rare, the mark of their partnership is very hard to find. The mark on this spoon was used for the book "Philadelphia Silversmiths" by Catherine Hollan, and in twenty... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20200328-03   Sold

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Offered is a nice set of four unengraved French solid silver tea or coffee spoons, by style probably dating to the 1880-1920 period, and hallmarked for Paris, first standard (950) silver, though the standard is difficult to discern in these hallmarks. The maker's mark appears to be PD, with a device between the initials - perhaps the head of a bull or cow. These spoons have never had a monogram. They measure about 5 3/16 inches in length, and weigh a total of 71 grams. Condition is fairly... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20200328-02   $35.00

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Offered is a lovely set of five late Chinese Export Silver tea or coffee spoons in an Arts & Crafts or Art Deco style, bearing ideograms that appear to potentially be for jeweler Tai Shan, working in Peking (Beijing) circa 1890-1935. I could of course be wrong, and would welcome any corrections. Please review the pictures for a closeup of the marks. The front of these spoons are engraved or decorated with an ideogram, which likely is not a monogram specific to an individual but rather an... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20200328-01   Sold

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Offered is a nicely preserved circa 1815-30 American coin silver teaspoon, with a maker's mark of C flanked by etoiles. I didn't research the mark, but it may be a mark used by Joseph H. Clark of Portsmouth, NH, as the spoon feels like it could be from that general area. It is very likely from New England, given the style, proportions and monogram. This piece has a good set of marks and a the engraved script monogram is period. This spoon measures about 5 5/16 inches in length and weighs... Click for details

Old Friends  
4178f   $550.00

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Flat handled, solid silver, place knives are generally only found in 19th century flatware, being supplanted by hollow handle forms.

This is a difficult to find group of twelve matched pieces in John Wendt's Renaissance Revival "Florentine" pattern issued in 1870.

Measuring 8" long each and weighing 20.3 T. oz. the lot, these are variously identified as tea, breakfast, or dessert knives.

These have solid handles, blunt end blades, and are engraved "MLC" in script in the reserve area of... Click for details

Old Friends  
4177f   On Hold

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The Biddle family of Philadelphia had a number of individuals involved in the manufacture and sale of silver in 19th century Philadelphia, one of whom, John W., son of William, was a principal in the partnership of Clark & Biddle, which is the name imprinted on this 7 1/4" long, just over 1.0 T. oz., preserve or jelly spoon.

Coin silver, the style is consistent with Philadelphia flatware design of its 1870 period.

It has a twisted stem with an oblong, tipt end handle that is... Click for details

Old Friends  
4176f   $38.00

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This 5 5/8" long, .8 T. oz., spoon speaks to the history of women's social and economic empowerment in the United States.

Made by Watson, whose "crown, W, lion" emblem, "Sterling," and "W&H Co.," appear on the backside, it commemorates the "Woman's Benefit Association."

Information about this organization, now the "Woman's Life Assurance Society," founded in Port Huron, Michigan in 1891 by Bina M. West when she was merely 24 years old, is readily available on the internet and makes for an... Click for details

Old Friends  
4175f   $110.00

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Each of these iced tea, lemonade, or parfait spoons measures 7 5/8" long, with the group weighing 4.0 T. oz.

The pattern is "Etruscan," which features a Greek Key motif on the handle end.

Marked "Gorham" and "Sterling," these are 1930 or later production of this design first issued in 1913.

Never monogrammed, they are in flawless condition, show no wear or damage, and have bright finishes.

Old Friends  
4174f   $62.00

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Made by Towle, whose "lion in a T" emblem, "925/1000," and "Sterling," are imprinted on the reverse, along with the name of the retailer, Boston's "A. Stowell & Co.," this solid silver tomato server measures 6 3/4" long and weighs 1.5 T. oz.

The pattern is "Merrimac," which is a colonial revival, apparently Hepplewhite inspired, design that is engraved and chased on a hammered surface. The hammering suggests an Arts & Crafts influence, popular in the 1916 issue date period of this.

The... Click for details

Old Friends  
4173f   $65.00

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Measuring 3 5/8" long and weighing a relatively heavy .8 T. oz., tongs this size and smaller are frequently referred to as "tete a tete" items, scaled for use with smaller tea and coffee sets.

Made by Durgin, whose "D" emblem and "Sterling" are imprinted on one arm, and retailed by Boston's "Shreve, Crump & Low," whose name appears on the other arm, the pattern is "Iris."

One of Durgin's flagship designs from early in the 20th century, "Iris" embodies all the lush expressiveness for which... Click for details