Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2314   $65.00

click for details

with bird, flowers, foliage; a beaded band above and below, diameter 2 1/4; height 1 1/2 inches, weight 1.5 Troy ounces, .800 standard, no monogram, marked as shown in fourth enlargement.

Some twit put a drop of silver-test acid right inside the cartouche and left a slight stain, but aside from this the condition is exemplary.

Old Friends  
3451f   $75.00

click for details

This 4" round, 5/8" high, just under 2.0 T. oz. shallow dish resting on four ball feet presents as rather mysterious in purpose, save that it is identified in Gorham's 1890 catalogue (see image 2).

Stamped with the company "lion, anchor, G", emblem, "Sterling," and model number "456" on the underside, it is actually part of a desk ensemble, namely the underplate, or as labeled, a tray, for a multi-lobed ink bottle.

Original purpose aside, it is attractive in its own right,... Click for details

Gebelein  
5400   $180.00

click for details

Fiddle,rounded end,upturned handles.lightly tipt on top,no drop. Length 6". Weight 3/4 troy ounce each.

Old Friends  
3449f   $115.00

click for details

Issued in 1880, Gorham's "Empress" incorporates a number of design elements, all evident on this 9 3/8" long, just over 3.0 T. oz., serving spoon.

The lower portions of the handle where it joins the bowl suggest an Egyptian Revival influence, while other areas point toward Renaissance Revival inspiration. In addition, the dense floral clusters employ imagery similar to Gorham's "Cluny" pattern that was designed by Antoine Heller, who was highly regarded for his Classical motifs.

Lastly,... Click for details

Old Friends  
3447f   $80.00

click for details

While the actual pattern name "Wave Edge" applies to a line of silver produced by Tiffany & Co., the border on this 6" by 3 1/8", 1.7 T. oz., dresser, pin, or other tray can appropriately be described using the same descriptor.

It has a 1/2" high sidewall with a scalloped edge and a series of raised scrolls that appear to mimic breaking waves.

The center bottom of the piece has an oval dome that is engraved "HCE" in lined script. Ridges radiate out from this, suggesting a sunburst. ... Click for details

Old Friends  
3446f   $415.00

click for details

An expressive and innovative design introduced early, 1872, in the history of Tiffany as a silver manufacturer, "Vine" appeared in many motifs.

This example is a 9" long, 3.3 T. oz., berry spoon in "Grapevine."

William Hood in Tiffany Silver Flatware notes that this was made with a variety of bowl forms, and the shell or fluted design on this is observationally one of the less common ones. It is finished with a bright gold wash front and backsides.

An early production item,... Click for details

Old Friends  
3445f   $95.00

click for details

A 7 5/8" long, 1.2 T. oz., piece, this example of Whiting's "Arabesque" pattern, is imprinted with the company's "lion" logo and the number "19" on the backside heel of the bowl, and "Sterling" and "Pat. 1875" on the handle reverse.

The griffin set against a Moorish style background composition is emblematic of the Renaissance Revival period of the 1870s.

The bowl is plum shaped, with a flange rim and central vee running from the handle to the midpoint of the base. It is finished with a... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20180312-02   $27.50

click for details

Offered is a interesting American coin silver cream or sauce ladle by Constant Southworth (a rare mark by a little-known maker). Mr. Southworth was born in 1802 in Sheffield, Massachusetts, and married there in 1823. By 1830 he was working about 6 1/2 miles away in Great Barrington, continuing there until after 1850. He died in 1876.

This piece measures about 6 3/8 inches in length and weighs about 23 grams. Condition is fair, as there is no monogram and the piece was likely buffed at... Click for details

Old Friends  
3444f   $135.00

click for details

This sterling silver bowl is model number "2385" made by Gorham in 1881, all documented in the marks on the underside of the flat bottom.

It measures 2" tall to the rim, 2 3/4" at the highest point of the arms, has a body that is 3 1/2" wide, 5 1/4" handle tip to handle tip, 2 3/8" across on the bottom, a top opening of 2 3/4", and weighs 4.6 T. oz.

Likely a sugar bowl, it stands on its own.

Elegantly understated in design, the body is cauldron shaped with a sawtooth edge rim, and has... Click for details

Old Friends  
3443f   $52.00

click for details

Not "made up" or "hand crafted," this 6 1/4" long, relatively weighty at .7 T. oz., butter pick is a completely original piece, rather than adapted from another item as many examples of this form are.

The pattern is "Passaic," introduced by Unger Brothers in 1900.

Known for its innovative Art Nouveau designs, executed in both flatware and jewelry, the style of this goes in another direction, to the rococo. It employs a variety of scrolls, leaves, and delicate flower blossoms presented... Click for details

Old Friends  
3442f   $48.00

click for details

Cincinnati, Ohio's Duhme & Co. offered numerous patterns that were teasingly close to those produced by other manufacturers, enough so that it raises the question whether these designs were copies or produced by third party firms for retailing by Duhme.

This 6 1/8" long, approximately 1.0 T. oz., sauce or cream ladle is an example of this practice. The rarely found pattern is a very close match to Whiting's "Berry," introduced in 1880.

The handle is more slender than Whiting's and also... Click for details

Old Friends  
3440f   $65.00

click for details

An early example of Whiting's "Lily," this pair of 4 15/16" long, heavy at just under 1.0 T. oz., tongs are marked with the company "lion" logo, "Sterling," and "Pat. App. For."

"Lily" is an enduringly popular, Art Nouveau pattern that essentially set the standard for this floral interpretation after its introduction in 1902.

Absent noticeable polishing wear, this pair show the design to full advantage, retaining all the fine flower and leaf elements for which the line is known, as well... Click for details

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2313   $450.00

click for details

Canton or Hong Kong circa 1840 with carved mother of pearl handles, length eight inches, monogrammed "WL" (?), fine condition although one blade shows evidence of being straightened (see fourth photo).

Forbes lists one set of dessert knives, #252 shown in figure 75, but these would appear to be quite rare.

No, dear reader, you're not daft though I may be, there are only five pictured here. Yes, we do have the sixth and it is no different than these!!

Old Friends  
3436f   This item is currently being auctioned

click for details

As is so much the mark of George Shiebler's work, this late 19th century, 5 1/2" long, button hook reflects imaginative and innovative design characteristics.

The handle, about half the overall length, is sterling silver, so marked, along with Shiebler's "winged S" emblem and the model number "5264," while the lower portion with the actual "hook" that defines the piece, is plated steel.

The silver portion is comprised of a central rod wrapped by two strands of heavy wire that encircle... Click for details

Sherrys Antiques* Collectibles* Frivolous Necessities  
safn-6466   $30.00

click for details

VINTAGE STERLING SILVER LADLE. A souvenir from Peru/ Measures approximately 5" in length. Dancer at the top of the handle and the bowl of the ladle features 2 llamas and what appears to be a Sun God or other Peruvian idol, Tiki,. I left this beautiful ladle with its slightly original oxidized patina, but if you would care to polish it, it would shine brightly. Wonderful condition.

Old Friends  
3435f   $65.00

click for details

Identified in Catherine Hollan's work Philadelphia Silversmiths as a member of "the extended Butler-Peters-McCarthy families from New London, CT," James Butler established himself in Philadephia and became closely associated with that city's James Watts with whom he was actually in active partnership as Watts & Butler for one year, 1867.

Butler also used an animal head over chevron emblem, as found on this 7 1/8" long, T. oz., preserve spoon, that is similar enough to that used by... Click for details