Old Friends  
1589sh   $ 50 spoon, $ 55 bon bon

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This sterling silver sugar spoon and bon bon or nut spoon in Gorham's "Buttercup" are both old examples and without a monogram or removal. They have the flanged rims and decorated shoulders that are found only on early examples of the pattern, and the marks are lion, anchor, G, and "Sterling," again indicative of age. The sugar spoon measures 6" long and weighs 1.0 T. oz., while the attractively reticulated bon bon length is 4 5/8" and weight just over .7 T. oz. Both pieces are in mint condit... Click for details

Old Friends  
1588f   $ 40 each

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Old and original examples, each of these four individual butter spreaders is solid sterling silver. They have flat handles and are without monograms or removals. They measure 5 3/4" long and weigh a relatively heavy .9 T. oz. apiece. Frontenac is an Art Nouveau daylily design dating from 1903. The pattern is exceptionally detailed, showing to full measure all aspects of the lily blossoms including the stamens and pollen flecks on the petals. These examples are without wear and show the patt... Click for details

Old Friends  
1587f   $ 65

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Measuring 5 3/4" long and weighing 1.2 T. oz., this sauce or small gravy ladle is marked for Stone Studios, which originated in 1937 as the continuation of the Arthur Stone workshop. As it also carries a "B" craftsman's letter, probably for long time worker Edward Billings, it is likely early in the history of the successor company while Stone's original workers remained still available. The pattern is identified as "Fiddleback End." Otherwise plain, it has a tipt end on the reverse of the ha... Click for details

North Hill Antiques  
694   Set of 10 $1150

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Forward-tipt fiddle handle, c1840 -- high sugarloaf shoulders, feathered script mono L C lightly engraved on reverse. Length is 8-1/4". Weight is a hefty 17.5 T oz. Some tinewear, otherwise condition is fine.

Old Friends  
1586f   $ 325

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Whiting produced berry, or serving, spoons in "Lily" in a variety of sizes, some with minor differences in length. This is apparently the largest, measuring 9 1/4" long and weighing just under 3.7 T. oz. It is also distinguished by the over-sized scale of its bowl which is 3 1/2" long and 3" wide. It is also an old example, carrying all the marks for an early production piece. These include the Whiting logo, the words "Pat. 1902," "R'd 1902," and an Old English "O." It is also stamped with ... Click for details

North Hill Antiques  
278   $73

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Marvellous wrigglework decoration extending length of handle accented by spotlights of brightcutting; ornate feathered script mono M B on front. Spoon has early sugarloaf shoulders. It is 8-5/8" long. Its condition is excellent -- near-mint.

Old Friends  
1585f   $ 145

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Later produced as a Wallace pattern, "Meadow Rose" originated with Watson in 1907. This is an early example, having the Watson crown, W, lion, hallmark, along with the W in a pennant emblem, and the word "Sterling." Older pieces have crisper and sharper pattern detail, and tend to have finer finishes than later pieces. That is the case with this 9 3/16" long, 2.7 T. oz., fish fork. The high relief, representational rose design is true to life and offered in an Art Nouveau manner. The four tine s... Click for details

Old Friends  
1580f   $ 185

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A popular form during most of the second half of the 19th century, this c. 1870 sterling silver olive server has a spoon on one end and a fork on the other. It measures 9 5/8" long and weighs 1.0 T. oz. Made by Gorham, and stamped with that company's lion, anchor, G hallmark, as well as "Sterling," it also carries the name of the retailer, Boston's "Bigelow, Kennard & Co." It has a twisted stem with a shield like detail toward the fork end. This is monogrammed "S" in Old English lettering. ... Click for details

Old Friends  
1579f   $ 75

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An especially choice example of Whiting's popular "Lily of the Valley," this bon bon or nut spoon measures 4 1/2" long, has a bowl that is 2" wide, and weighs almost .6 T. oz. The reticulated bowl has scalloped edges and a satin matte finish on the front and back sides. It is without a monogram or removal. As suggested, this is in mint condition. There is no polishing wear, the pattern detail remains crisp and well-defined, and the finish is lustrous. Marks are the Whiting emblem, the word ... Click for details

Old Friends  
1577fl   $ 32

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An unassuming item, this small, open, sterling silver nut or master salt dish nonetheless possesses a fair measure of charm. It is oval shaped, measures 2 1/2" long by 2" wide, stands 3/4" high, weighs .7 T. oz., and sits on four ball feet. The ends on the long axis are swooped upward and rounded, while the sidewalls have something of a crenulated edge made up of scalloping and scrolls. The interior is finished in a satin finish gold wash. The outside is plain, without a monogram or inscript... Click for details

Old Friends  
1576a   $ 90

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Dating from 1902, Watson's "Lily" is a markedly successful interpretation of a popular Art Nouveau floral theme. It shows intricate, high relief design detail, clearly portraying, for example, the stamen of the blossoms and the finely stippled background surrounding the flowers and leaves. The portraiture shows especially well at the scale of this 7 5/8" long, weighty, 1.8 T. oz., cold meat fork. The four tine serving end has scalloped, flanged shoulders, a cupped heel, and cross bars between ... Click for details

Old Friends  
1575a   $ 40

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An original example of this standout Art Nouveau pattern dating from 1901, this piece is stamped in fine lettering with the Reed & Barton emblem, the words "Sterling" and "Pat. App'l For," this phrase particularly indicative of its age. The item is a 5 3/4" long, approximately .8 T. oz., seafood or oyster cocktail fork. It is in immaculate condition and without a monogram or removal.

Old Friends  
1574fa   $ 345

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Fried oyster servers show themselves in various forms, some quite whimsical. Wood & Hughes contributed a singular style to the line up as evidenced in this 10 1/2", nearly 3.7 T. oz., example. The pattern is "Daisy," an attractive 1880 floral design whose inspiration is self-evident. The serving end measures 5 1/2" long and 3" wide. It is rounded, flat, and asymmetrical, shaped quite like a golf club head. The sidewalls at the join with the handle are wrapped upward and around and thus form... Click for details

North Hill Antiques  
698   $5,000

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Baird is listed is Hollan's "Virginia Silversmiths." He began his career as a silversmith in 1802 in Petersburg, VA; by 1806 he was plying his trade in Natchez, MS, and from 1813-38 he was working in Kentucky -- Paris, Washington and then Maysville. This piece has an 18thC-style pointed-end handle, and an interesting and unusual squared drop on the bowl back; the handle has a reverse rib. The mono on front is a shaded feathered script D P B. The ladle is 14-3/4" long and has a 3" round b... Click for details

Old Friends  
1573f   $ 85

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Documented as working in Frankford, Pennsylvania c. 1800-20, and subsequently in nearby Philadelphia, Isaac Reed was the maker of this 6 3/4" long, 1.1 T. oz., pair of coin silver tongs. In addition to having his personal mark, "I. Reed," imprinted on the inside of each arm, they carry what John McGrew describes in his work on pseudo hallmarks as the "Philadelphia eagle." The style suggests a date from early in his career. The have plain, convex, fiddle shaped arms, have a broad arch with poi... Click for details

North Hill Antiques  
342   $50

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Double-swell fiddle handles, flared shoulders, never engraved; 4-1/4" long. Condition is excellent.