Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20170306-01   $22.50

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Offered is a good American coin silver tea spoon by Philadelphia silversmith Samuel Hutchinson, working in that city circa 1828-39. This teaspoon bears a clear, well-struck maker's mark for Hutchinson, and in this case he was probably the retailer rather than the maker as the spoon also has a floret mark used by John Curry and was probably made by Curry. Like many pieces made by Curry, this has good weight and balance. It measures about 5 7/8 inches in length and weighs about 18 grams. This... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20170304-12   $27.50

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Offered is a good early American coin silver teaspoon by noted Philadelphia silversmith Edward Lownes (1792-1834), who was prolific and accomplished in his short life. This fiddle pattern teaspoon is large for its type at about 6 1/4 inches in length and about 24 grams in weight. It bears a well-executed period engraved script monogram and a very clear maker's mark. It also has a floret pseudo-hallmark used by John Curry, who could have been the manufacturer of this piece. This piece is in... Click for details

Old Friends  
3026f   $95.00

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Introduced in 1885, Whiting's "Lily of the Valley" immediately established itself as an outstanding pattern, and has remained sought after ever since.

Sculptural in nature, it features a raised stalk of blossoms enveloped by leaves, which form the margins of the handle. The ground behind the blossoms is lined, again representative of the leaves, and this also serves as an enhancing design element.

In sum, it reflects influences from the innovative design sensibilities of the Aesthetic... Click for details

Old Friends  
3018f   $70.00

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A 7" long, approximately 1.7 T. oz., item, this ladle is fully hallmarked for sterling, London, 1793-94, and makers George Smith and William Fearn.

Appropriate to the period, it is "Old English," style, with a downturned, reverse tipt, handle and a thumb drop on the bowl. The front has a feathered script "R" monogram.

The bowl is unusual in that it is a perfectly shaped hemisphere, 2 1/16" in diameter and 3/4" deep.

It is in very good condition, absent any bends, breaks, or cracks,... Click for details

Old Friends  
3015f   $95.00

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While hallmarked for Chester, England, with a date letter for 1908-09, this sterling silver tea caddy spoon has dual Scottish associations.

First is the maker's identifier, which is "MF" in a rectangle. This is for M(ontague) Friedlander & Co., who also registered in the Glasgow, Scotland assay office.

Secondly, it is inscribed on the reverse with a crest and a Gaelic motto "carid nam fecham" ("a friend in time of trial") both of which are associated with the Smythe family of Balharry,... Click for details

Old Friends  
3013f   $48.00

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Introduced by Whiting just after the turn of the 20th century, "King Edward" has remained a sought after pattern in the century plus since.

This 6" long, heavy at 1.2 T. oz., sugar spoon is an early example, marked with the Whiting lion logo, "Sterling," "Pat. Ap.23" and the name of the retailer, Boston's "A. Stowell & Co."

It is in immaculate estate condition, retaining every bit of its original sharp detail on the shells and acanthus elements of the design. The finish is bright and the... Click for details

Old Friends  
3012f   $85.00

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Dating from the mid 19th century, this matching pair of spoons are early production items from the New York City firm of Wood & Hughes.

A simple but well-executed "Tipt" pattern, they show the modest beginnings of a manufacturer which later produced some of the most elaborate designs of its time.

Each of these measures 8 3/4" long and has a feathered script "MAP" monogram set sideways on the handle. The pair weigh 2.8 T. oz.

They are in very good condition. Free of polishing wear,... Click for details

Old Friends  
3009f   $105.00

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Slightly more elaborated than "Cottage" as popularized Gorham, this rounded end design with a small fleur-de-lis, slightly upturned, srolled tip end has a thread edge and may be the design advertised as "Threaded" by the maker, Newell Harding & Co. of Boston. Additional design elements include an elaborated fleur-de-lis on the reverse heel of the bowl.

The manufacturer's name appears on the backside of this 9" long, just over 3.1 T. oz., large serving, likely pudding, spoon. Other marks... Click for details

Old Friends  
3003f   $42.00

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A late 19th century pattern, "Mazarin" has a gadroon border handle with a broad end surmounted with a scrolled disk.

This example is a 5 13/16" long, approximately 1.0 T. oz., bon bon or nut (almond) scoop.

It has a 2 3/8" wide by 2" deep serving area. This has cupped and scalloped shoulders, a curved front edge, a reticulated surface, and retains slight traces of an original gold wash.

There is a script "CGD" monogram on the handle.

The condition is outstanding. Pattern detail... Click for details

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2238   $225.00

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length 7 5/8 inches, weight 1.84 Troy ounces, monogrammed as shown in second enlargement, gilt bowl, outstanding original condition. Concerning the engraving, both the quality of design and the execution are far above average.

Marked only "coin," back in the day we would have hastened to read through many musty issues of "Silver Magazine" in order to find the maker of this fine ladle, but now, in our dotage, we will leave this task to you, dear reader.

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20170206-01   $35.00

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Offered is a very scarce example of the work of Delaware silversmith and clockmaker William F. Robinson (b. 1810 - d. 1849), who worked briefly in Philadelphia in the 1830s, and then spent the last decade of his life working in Wilmington. Silver bearing his mark is uncommon. This teaspoon bears a rubbed but legible maker's mark of W.F.ROBINSON in a rectangular punch, and has an engraved period script monogram. It measures about 6 3/16 inches in length and weighs about 18 grams. Condition is... Click for details

Old Friends  
3000f   $265.00

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Tracing to the mid 19th century, this pair of coin tongs are early production items from Cincinnati's premier silver and jewelry house, "Duhme & Co.," as indicated by the stamp on the inside of each arm.

They are large at 6 5/8" long, and heavy at 1.7 T. oz., and combine a variety of period design elements. They may be pickle tongs, for use with a tall caster.

The lower portions of the arms are blocky where they join with the substantially-scaled talon grips.

This area is joined to... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20170205-01   $37.50

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Offered is a rare 270-year old Norwegian master salt spoon by Frederikshald (now known as Halden) silversmith Lorentz Hoffman (alternate spelling, Hofmand), who was born circa 1692 and died in 1767. This piece is marked LH over 1746 for the maker's mark and year of manufacture, and FH for Frederikshald. These marks appear in "Norske Solvstempler" by Jorunn Fossberg, page 29. The third mark may be an assay master's mark, but I can't be certain. It is quite uncommon to see domestic Norwegian... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20170204-02   $45.00

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Offered is a very fine pair of unusually well-decorated English Victorian sterling silver fiddle pattern sugar tongs, with extensive relief engraving to the bow and both arms, down to the grips. This piece also features a nicely done period script monogram of "AT & MT". The tongs are fully hallmarked for London, 1872, and bear a maker's mark of what appears to be TH over TH. Please click on the picture to see the rest of the pictures, including details of the decoration and the maker's mark... Click for details

Old Friends  
2996f   $95.00

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A 6 3/4" long, relatively weighty at 1.4 T. oz. item, this small to medium sized serving spoon was produced by George Shiebler in the late 19th century.

The pattern name is "Sandringham" and the design is consistent with this appelation, in that it is English courtly.

The handle, which has beaded margins, is capped with what appears to be a near exact representation of the three feather herldic badge of the Prince of Wales.

References list the issue date of this pattern as 1895,... Click for details

Old Friends  
2993f   $125.00

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Made in London in 1802-03 during the reign of George III, this pair of tongs measure 5 5/8" long and weigh just over 1.0 T. oz.

They are fully marked on the arms for London, 1802-03, sterling, and the family partnership of Peter (son of Hester), Ann (sister-in-law of Peter), and William (nephew of Peter) Bateman, represented as "PB/AB/WB."

It has cup grips, shaped arms, and a slightly concave arch that is engraved with a feathered script "CH" monogram.

All outward facing surfaces are... Click for details