Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20160813-01   $22.50

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Offered is a good American coin silver teaspoon by New Jersey watchmaker, jeweler and silversmith Henry B. James, whose biographical information appears below. This teaspoon measures 6 3/16 inches in length and weighs about 16 grams. It has a nicely executed period script engraved monogram, and a rubbed but legible maker's mark. Condition overall is good, with some surface wear and signs of use and shallow dings to the bowl, but no splits or repairs. This spoon would almost certainly date to... Click for details

Old Friends  
2810f   $75.00

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Dating from the last decade of the 19th century, Gorham's "Virginia" is essentially a pointed antique design with beaded edging, front and back sides.

This piece is a 6 1/2" long sugar sifter with an oval 2" by 2 1/2" bowl. It is remarkably heavy, weighing 2.7 T. oz., resulting in an usually thick handle and substantial bowl.

The rather strict bluntness of the design is offset by the delicate, patterned piercing in the gold finished bowl.

It is without a monogram or removal and in... Click for details

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2220   $325.00

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Ball Black & Company circa 1875, with satyr's head handle, stepped oval foot, finely engraved crest and body (please see third image), height 3 5/8 inches, weight 4.74 Troy ounces, some staining to interior as shown but excellent overall condition, no monogram in opposing cartouche.

Old Friends  
2808f   $70.00

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Measuring 8 3/16" long and weighing approximately 1.3 T. oz., this lettuce fork bridges two related forms.

It is more substantial than the diminutively scaled, delicate tine, pieces used for soft lettuce, but it is not as robust as a salad serving fork.

The lengthy handle is the proportion of a lettuce fork, but more substantial. The tines, two of which are splayed and one barbed, are relatively wide and joined to a cupped, pierced heel, but still smaller than regular salad servers. ... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20160807-07   $45.00

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Offered is a scarce American coin silver fiddle pattern table fork by Philadelphia silversmith Peter G. Perdriaux, working circa 1850s. Perdriaux was born circa 1830 and died circa 1865, cutting short a promising career as a manufacturer. This fork is of typically good quality, measuring about 7 1/8 inches in length and weighing approximately 50 grams. It is engraved with a period script monogram, and below that is engraved (probably slightly later, but within the same generation) "USA". ... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20160807-01   $75.00

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Offered is a good early American coin silver table spoon circa 1810-25 by well-known silversmith Thomas McConnell, who worked from about 1797 to 1818 in Wilmington, Delaware (with a brief stint in Baltimore in 1814 or so), and then in Richmond, Virginia from 1818 until his death in 1825. This piece could have been made in either location as McConnell had known production under taxation in both locations, though the majority of his work that has a provenance points to a Delaware origin. This... Click for details

Old Friends  
2807f   $38.00

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Sized between a demitasse and a 5 o'clock spoon, this piece measures 4 5/8" long and weighs a relatively heavy .7 T. oz.

The pattern is Tiffany's turn of the 20th century, "Florentine," which is an elaborate and richly textured design.

It is in choice estate condition, showing no polishing wear, having a bright finish, and retaining its original gold wash, front and backside, bowl.

There is an Old English "C" monogram on the handle reverse.

Marks are "Tiffany & Co.," "Sterling,"... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20160806-01   $195.00

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Offered is a very fine and scarce early American coin silver fish slice or server in the Kings pattern, by the noted Philadelphia firm of Robert and William Wilson, working circa 1825-50. Surprisingly little is known about this firm, despite its prominence and the great numbers of spoons and other pieces that survive bearing one of the firm's marks. This piece measures about 13 inches in length overall, with a blade measuring about 7 1/4 inches in length and about 3 inches across at its... Click for details

Old Friends  
2804f   $55.00

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Commonly referred to as a "brandy warmer," this form appears in Gorham's 1894 catalogue identified as a "brandy burner" (see image 2).

Whatever name is applied, this example is characteristic of the piece. It measures 3 7/8" long, with a short handle and a 1 5/8" diameter bowl with two tabs to lock over the rim of a brandy snifter. It weighs .6 T. oz.

While brandy warmers are readily available, this piece is uncommon. Figural and decorative whereas many are plain, it is a limited... Click for details

Old Friends  
2802f   $46.00

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Measuring 7 3/8" long and weighing just over .8 T. oz., this long handle olive or pickle fork is a clean example of Towle's "Old Newbury" pattern issued in 1900.

The serving end has two hooked tines that are splayed outward. These are joined to a cupped heel that has three piercings.

Without a monogram or removal, the piece is in choice estate condition. There is no polishing wear and the finish is bright and warm. The tines are free of bends or burrs and remain even and pointed. ... Click for details

Old Friends  
2800f   $40.00

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A highly trumpeted design at the time of its introduction in 1880, Gorham's figural "Fontainebleau" quickly established itself as one of the company's foremost patterns, and it remains so today.

This example is a 6" long, just under .9 T. oz., youth fork. It is an early example, stamped with Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," and the word "Copyrighted" set on the edge of the handle.

Its age is further evidenced by the inscription on the reverse, which reads in fine script... Click for details

Old Friends  
2799f   $38.00

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A fully original, early production, example of "Francis I," this piece is imprinted with the company's "bird, R in a shield, standing lion" emblem, and the word "Sterling."

It is a 4 7/16" long, just over .4 t. oz., lemon fork with three tines, the outer two of which are splayed. The center one is wider and slightly more elongated than the other two.

It is without a monogram or removal, and in immaculate condition. The high relief, clustered fruit pattern detail remains clear and... Click for details

Old Friends  
2798f   $235.00

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Part of a desk set made by Gorham, this 9 1/2" long by 3 1/2" wide, weighty at 5.3 T. oz., tray is identified in the company's 1902 catalogue as a "sealing set tray" (see image 2).

It appears to be a pen tray, and is indeed very similar to the item alongside it identified as that, but late Victorian sensibilities provided for separate items for each functional need of the time.

It is particularly handsome and intricately detailed. The motif appears to be taken from English court style,... Click for details

Old Friends  
2795f   $55.00

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Not a full flatware line, this singularly designed 6 1/4" long, .9 T. oz., pickle fork made by Wood & Hughes dates circa 1880.

The pattern is clearly rooted in Aesthetic sensibilities, with a marine theme. There are two shell motifs, one in the heel of the central of three tines, and one at the tip of the handle.

Radiating lines fan out from the broad, angular, handle shoulders, and meet a series of ripples that evoke waves, which probably not without coincidence, resemble Tiffany's... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20160723-12   $25.00

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Offered is a nice American coin silver teaspoon by itinerant Maryland and Pennsylvania silversmith and clockmaker Emanuel (or Emmanuel) Holsey (ca. 1798 - 1849), who apprenticed to Henry Biershing in Hagerstown, MD around 1815 and who was working on his own in Williamsport, MD circa 1820-21, Hagerstown circa 1821-23, Chambersburg, PA circa 1823-39, and perhaps in Union County, PA circa 1839-49, where he died. Holsey's silver is graced with his relatively crude maker's mark and a great eagle... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20160723-11   $45.00

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Offered is a very good early American coin silver teaspoon by little-known maker John Reynolds (1770-1832), working from the 1790s through 1808 and probably much later. By style, this spoon should date to circa 1810 or later. This is one of several marks attributed to Reynolds; others include a different initials mark, and the mark J.Reynolds in script. This mark is shown in several reference works on Maryland silver. This piece measures about 6 inches in length and weighs about 14 grams. ... Click for details