Old Friends  
5550f   $60.00

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This 6 15/16" long, 1.25 T. oz., place, aka oval soup or dessert, spoon speaks through time in multiple voices.

First, the pattern which is Ruby by John Polhamus (later Shiebler) is a superb expression of the Greek and Egyptian Revival modes popular in its 1870 period.

It features a central palmette set atop something akin to a papyrus leaf. There is a rosette flanked by ivy leaves situated on the pointed tip end. These elements are surrounded by... Click for details

Old Friends  
5549f   $185.00

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A commanding piece in a dramatic pattern, this ice cream server, aka ice cream knife, measures 9 3/4" long and weighs a substantial 4.1 T. oz.

Made by Whiting, the pattern is Heraldic, issued in 1880.

Appropriate to the name, the imagery features a medieval helmet prominently set at the top of the handle. The remainder of the design incorporates a dense array of high relief, scrolling acanthus leaves.

There is a flowing script "EAW" monogram engraved in the shield reserve on the... Click for details

Old Friends  
5548f   $42.00

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An early production example of Gorham's Strasbourg flatware, this 6" long, .8 T. oz., sugar spoon is marked with the company's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," and "Pat. 1897."

One of Gorham's enduring patterns, the design features French scroll margins with a shell detail at the handle end.

This has a shell-shaped bowl that is finished in a bright gold wash on the interior and has decorated shoulders. This latter detail is only found on older pieces; newer items have plain... Click for details

Old Friends  
5547f   $245.00

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This all silver (not weighted, although it may have been originally) vase stands 10" tall on a 2 5/8" wide, tiered, base and weighs 7.8 T. oz.

It is hallmarked for "sterling silver," "London," "1898," and prominent English maker "William Comyns & Sons, Ltd."

Trumpet form, it has tapered sides that lead to a splayed top that measures 4 1/2" in diameter.

The uppermost 1 1/2" of the body, essentially the splayed area, features open leaf and flower (perhaps thistle)... Click for details

Old Friends  
5546f   $48.00

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The Baltimore Museum of Art volume Baltimore Silver notes that Andrew Ellicott Warner "is the best known of a family of silversmiths which included his father Cuthbert, brother Thomas, and son Andrew Ellicott Warner, Jr."

This example of his work is a 7" long, weighty at 1.3 T. oz., place or dessert spoon.

The marks on this, "A.E. Warner" along with the peculiar to Baltimore "11" assay stamp (midway between coin and sterling silver), is one of seven documented in the above... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20240126-01   Sold

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Offered is a nice example of a Paris, Kentucky coin silver spoon with a nice city mark and one of the maker's marks of Shelbyville and Paris silversmith William M. Hinton, who was working in Shelbyville from about 1847-54 and in Paris from 1854 on. This piece is also engraved "Duncan" in period script for the original owner. This teaspoon measures a little over six inches in length and weighs about 17 grams. Condition is fair, with a lot of dings to the bowl, but very little tip wear and no... Click for details

Old Friends  
5545f   $65.00

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Established in Jacksonville in 1868, Greenleaf & Crosby eventually evolved into Florida's premier fine jewelry house.

Their offerings included a variety of Florida themed souvenir items and table implements, many of them sourced from Gorham, which is the case with this early 20th century, 8 3/4" long, orange knife.

It has a filled handle in an orange blossom, bud, and leaf design. This is stamped "Sterling" and with Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem on the ferrule at the join with... Click for details

Old Friends  
5543f   $48.00

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One of numerous mid 19th century silver manufacturers situated in cities along the Hudson River, John L. Westervelt of Newburgh was a major producer in his 1840s to 1880s period.

This lengthy at 7 1/2" and weighty at 1.3 T. oz., master butter knife is stamped with his "star, lion, D" emblem along with "Sterling" on the blade backside.

The pattern is Ivy, which was one of Westervelt's full line designs. Naturalistic in manner, Ivy faithfully represents this vine which served... Click for details

Old Friends  
5542f   $525.00

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Rooted in Moorish design and dating from the encompassing 1870s Renaissance Revival period, Whiting's Arabesque features a standing griffin with widespread wings set against a vine, leaf, and rosette background, all of which are quintessential elements of this design motif.

This ensemble is an ice cream set comprised of a server along with eleven (alas one of the no doubt once twelve has been lost to the group) individual spoons.

These are all part of a rarely found original set,... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20240122-01   Sold

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Spoon #1 - Offered is a very fine and heavy armorial coin silver tablespoon by Robert Wilson of New York, and later Philadelphia; this piece dates to Wilson's New York period, around 1805. It is graced with Wilson's early maker's mark of RW in an oval punch, with some pseudo-hallmarks. The period engraved family crest (really an armorial) is of a peacock atop a chapeau, associated with the Manners family. This spoon measures about 9 inches in length and weighs about 70 grams. Condition is... Click for details

Old Friends  
5541f   $44.00

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An original, early piece of Towle's Old Colonial flatware, this cream ladle measures 6" long and weighs 1.1 T. oz.

It is marked with the company's "standing lion in a T," "925/1000," "Sterling," and "(Pat. 1895)."

The bowl is essentially round, 1 3/4" in diameter and 1/2" deep. Characteristic of the line, it has a faceted interior and a flanged rim with scalloped shoulders.

In choice estate condition, this is without wear, dents, bends, or scuffs in the bowl, and shows a bright... Click for details

Old Friends  
5540f   $115.00

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Engraved patterns were immensely popular in the late 19th century and consequently many manufacturers produced them in an array of designs, especially florals.

One particular pattern that was widely embraced was the Lily, which is actually a lily of the valley engraved on this 8 3/4" long, 2.6 T. oz., berry or other serving spoon by Whiting.

Introduced in 1882, the naturalistic floral and leaf elements are represented in an Aesthetic manner, set on a rounded end,... Click for details

Old Friends  
5537f   On Hold

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One of two identical place, i.e. lunch size, forks this piece measures 7 1/16" long and weighs a robust 1.7 T. oz.

Dating from the late 19th century, it is a quality item stamped "Hennegan, Bates Co." for the prominent Baltimore firm, and "Sterling."

The pattern is an engraved Lily, which is more accurately lily of the valley, and is one of several variations of the same theme made by numerous manufacturers of the period.

The bright cut work is set against an enhancing... Click for details

Old Friends  
5536f   On Hold

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This 8 1/8" long, 1.77 T. oz., coin silver piece stands apart for several reasons.

One distinguishing aspect is the combination of maker and retailer.

It is stamped with the "eagle, thistle, harp" mark of Philadelphia's Taylor & Lawrie." Catherine Hollan in Philadelphia Silver notes "they [T&L] advertised they had manufactured for Bailey & Kitchen then for Bailey & Co. for twenty years . . . (1857 adv)."

This is stamped "M.W. Galt & Bro.," for the Washington, D.C. firm... Click for details

Old Friends  
5534f   $90.00

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Measuring 7 1/4" long, weighing 2.3 T. oz., and having a 2 1/2" diameter by 1" deep bowl, this is a substantially-sized gravy ladle.

The pattern is Whiting's Heraldic, which apropos of the pattern name, features the image of a medieval helmet prominently set at the top of the handle. The remainder of the design incorporates a dense array of high relief, scrolling acanthus leaves.

The bowl on this is the fancier of two that Whiting used for this line. It has a scalloped rim and... Click for details

Old Friends  
5533f   $110.00

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The larger of at least two sizes of model number 393 dishes made by Wallace, this piece measures 6 1/4" by 4 1/8" and stands 1 1/4" tall at the highest. Solid silver, it weighs a substantial 2.96 T. oz.

Shell form dishes were produced by many makers throughout the 20th century, and they were typically based on scallops . This one, however, is modeled after a large, hard shell clam, specifically known as a quahoag in New England, Rhode Island in particular.... Click for details