Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20230528-01   Sold

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Offered is an extremely rare example of the work of Philadelphia silversmith George Harford (fl. 1789-1826), the first I've come across in decades. This example is a pictureback (birdback) teaspoon featuring a husky eagle with shield, making this piece even more special. This spoon has a rubbed but legible maker's mark for George Harford, a period engraved monogram of "MAH", and a well-preserved example of his die-struck eagle and shield decoration to the back of the bowl. This spoon measures... Click for details

Old Friends  
5313f   $145.00

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Gipsy was one of George Shiebler's first, original, full line patterns (vs. many of his other of early patterns which he brought over from other sources).

It is a Moorish design consistent with many other patterns of the period, Tiffany and Whiting's Persian, Gorham's Raphael and Hindostanee and Wendt's Moresque being instances of the more prominent corresponding designs.

Gipsy incorporates a leafy, repetitive, motif on the front of a rounded end... Click for details

Old Friends  
5206f   $85.00

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Items originating from various members of the renowned Bateman family of English silversmiths appear with individual maker's marks and in combination with one another.

This pair of 5 1/2" long, .9 T. oz., tongs is stamped "PB/WB" for Peter and William Bateman. Other marks include a "lion passant" for sterling, a date letter for 1809-10, and a "bust" duty mark.

A fully period piece, this has slender, tapered, arms with a broad arch and cupped grips and is extensively bright cut in a leaf... Click for details

Old Friends  
5310f   On Hold

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Properly hallmarked for London, 1766-67, sterling silver, and maker Thomas Wallis I, this spoon measures measures 6 7/8" long and weighs a substantial 1.8 T. oz. It is a Seal Top form with a characteristic flat disk (disc) end.

Original Seal Top pieces trace to the 16th and 17th centuries, however, meaning this is a "conversion" adapted from a regular but later date, albeit mid 18th century in this instance, spoon.

The back of the handle is flat, while the front has chamfered... Click for details

Old Friends  
5309f   $110.00

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A pattern for which John Polhamus and Henry Hebbard, who worked individually and in a short-lived partnership in New York City in the mid 19th century, held a joint patent, Oriental was a favored design for marketing by Tiffany in its early years.

The dies for the pattern were eventually acquired by George Shiebler, who extended production subsequent to all these antecedent firms.

These four, matching, 6" long, 3.2 T. oz. the group, teaspoons are older pieces, marked "H.H." for... Click for details

Old Friends  
5308f   $60.00

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Made by International, whose Simpson, Hall, Miller division "helmut" emblem, "Sterling," and model number "C 1960" appear on the backside of the handle, this tea strainer is in the Arts & Crafts mode and likely dates from the first quarter of the twentieth century.

It is over-the-cup style, with a round, 2 1/8" diameter by 3/4" deep, pierced, bowl. This has a narrow rim with a rolled edge.

The bowl is joined to a 2 13/16" long Pointed Antique slightly upturned, handle and a... Click for details

Old Friends  
5306f   $46.00

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An early production piece, this 6 1/8" long, 1.1 T. oz., sugar spoon in Frontenac is stamped with the "Indian head" emblem of the Simpson, Hall, Miller division of International Silver, along with "Pat." and "Sterling."

The design is Art Nouveau in manner and portrays lily blossoms on the slightly upturned handle, front and back, as well as on the interior shoulders of the sinuous, shell-shaped, bowl.

The detail of the work is precise and rendered in relief.

Never... Click for details

Old Friends  
5301f   $115.00

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Founded in Providence, Rhode Island, by William B. Fessenden (who had a prior working history in Boston with various and New York City with Whiting) in 1858, the firm that bore his name was one of numerous silver manufacturers located in the Providence to North Attleboro, Massachusetts corridor, all anchored by Gorham. Given this concentration of industry, there was a body of skilled workers in the area available to Fessenden, which enabled it to produce quality items from its onset.

This... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20230507-06   $49.50

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Offered is a good set of five American coin silver teaspoons clearly struck with the maker's mark of Richard Huntington of Utica; this mark has been observed with a Utica city mark on other spoons, though only the maker's mark appears on this set. These spoons have no monogram or obvious sign of erasure. They measure about 5 3/4 inches in length on average and weigh a total of about 73 grams. Condition is good overall, with some small bumps and dings to the bowls of most spoons, but no splits... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20230507-05   $14.00

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Offered is a nice Gorham coin silver salt spoon with early maker's marks, circa the 1850s. This piece is engraved with a period script monogram. It measures about 3 3/4 inches in length and weighs about 7 grams. Condition is excellent overall, with minimal wear and no dents, splits or repairs. All in all a nice useful American silver salt spoon!

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20230507-03   $16.00

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Offered is a worn but nice early 19th Century New York City coin silver spoon by little-known silversmith James Lockward. The NY Historical Society has a spoon by this maker, previously owned by Eric Shrubsole. This spoon is in the fiddle shell pattern, and has a worn period script monogram as well as a good clear maker's mark and a later, but still 19th Century, monogram to the back. This spoon measures about 5 3/4 inches in length and weighs about 18 grams. Condition is fair, with some... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20230507-02   Sold

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Offered is a really lovely early 19th Century American coin silver spoon made by Thomas Sargeant (fl. 1795-1821), who worked in Springfield, Massachusetts. Thomas took over the shop of his brother Jacob in 1795 when Jacob moved to Connecticut. This spoon is engraved with a [period script monogram of "CF" and the back of the handle also has a 19th Century engraved date of 1793 (presumably the birth date or marriage date of the original owner). Thomas Sargeant's maker's mark well struck and... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20230507-01   $24.00

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Offered is a nice American coin silver salt spoon from the first half of the 19th Century, by little known maker or retailer Charles Lord, working in Portland, ME. This piece has a period engraved script monogram of "EW" and a good clear maker's mark of C.LORD in a rectangular punch. It measures about 4 1/8 inches in length and weighs about 9 grams. Condition is excellent, with minimal wear and no dents, splits or repairs. All in all a nice example of a rarely seen Maine silversmith's or... Click for details

Old Friends  
5298f   On Hold

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A multi-motif line, George Shiebler's 1902 Fiorito portrays a variety of flowers interpreted in an Art Nouveau manner.

This example is a 5 3/4" long, .5 T. oz., bon bon representing a clematis.

A fully open blossom appears on the handle end, while the portraiture is repeated in the entirety of the 2" by 1 3/4", nearly round, reticulated and undulating, bowl that has a pale gold wash finish front and back sides.

Never monogrammed or inscribed, this is in flawless condition,... Click for details

Old Friends  
5297f   $44.00

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This 8 5/8" long, 1.2 T. oz., piece is a choice example of 1860s silver.

A table serving spoon, it is marked "Coin" and "Twambley & Cleaves" for the Biddeford, Maine, jeweler and silver retailer.

The handle is a Pointed Antique with a Tipt end. The surface is finely bright cut engraved in a period acanthus leaf design with a reserve area that is inscribed with a cursive "H" monogram.

The backside is plain save for the marks.

As noted, this is a quality item... Click for details

Old Friends  
5294f   $20.00

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Measuring 5 5/8" long and weighing .5 T. oz., this circa 1840 teaspoon has a double provenance.

It is marked "S. Ayers Elmira" for Socrates Ayers born in 1814. He worked in Elmira as a silversmith, watchmaker and jeweler until about 1877.

It is also stamped with a "star D star," which mark John McGrew in his Manufacturer's Marks on American Coin Silver attributes to an "Unidentified - Up-State New York" maker.

The handle is engraved "Ruth Burnham" in script lettering set sideways... Click for details