Painted-end handle, c1790 -- marvellous all-over brightcutting and roulette work, drop on bowl back, short reverse rib, feathered script mono L F in cartouche on front; 9-1/8" in length. Condition is near-mint, extended bowl tip unworn.
Oval-end handle, c1790 -- drop on bowl back, reverse rib, feathered script mono D on front; 7-1/2" in length. A little unevenness in bowl, otherwise condition is excellent.
18th century oval-end handle, feathered script mono F on front; 7-1/8" in length. Condition is excellent throughout. The mark is exceptional in its crispness, as is the distinctive eagle of Capt. William Richardson, which came with the business when Cowan took it over in 1808.
Oval-end handle, c1785 -- drop on bowl back, reverse-tipt handle, block mono M (device) B on front; 4-5/8" in length. Condition is near-mint, bowl tip unworn.
Rattail on bowl back, shaded block mono R over T * M on reverse of handle, 7-3/8" long. Condition is quite good -- a touch of tipwear, but all else is fine. Russell moved to Newport sometime after serving his apprenticeship with John Dixwell in Boston (see Kane for discussion of Russell's life).
Both examples are remarkably similar -- 0val-end handles, c1790 -- shell drops on bowl backs (see pic), reverse ribs, and both with the same mono, block D over W * H. The difference in the shell drops is quite clear; the difference in the monos is very slight. Both spoons are just short of 4-1/2" in length. The Ewing mark is less well known, but is confirmed here with the addition of the Haverstick mark. (See p. 14 in Gerstell for description and pic of Ewing's IE mark.) The Haverstick spoo... Click for details
New England picturebacks are extremely rare -- none moreso than Rhode Island birds. Only Burr is known to have produced birdback spoons. The bird on this piece is in bold relief, all of its parts intact. The spoon itself has a pointed-end handle with a clearly defined reverse rib. The mono is C * H in shaded block letters, and the length is 5-1/4". The mark is E (pellet) BURR. The bowl tip has a bit of wear, otherwise the overall condition is excellent.
Oval end, bright cut. Denison is listed in Darling's New York State Silversmiths as working about 1790. Length 9-3/8". Weight 1-3/4 troy ounces. The monogram is a script MD in a reserve. Mark condition is excellent. Overall condition is very good (a little tip wear).
Bright cut, drop. Length 9-1/8". Weight 1-1/2 troy ounces. The monogram is a script JW. Overall condition is excellent (bowl needs regulating). Mark condition is good.
Upturned handle, shell on heel, tipt on top, drop. Marked Austin in a rectangle. Length 4-5/8". The monogram is E+B on the back of the handle. Madrk condition excellent. Overall condition very good (slight tip wear, handle needs regulating).
Oval-end handles, c1795 -- brightcutting and roulette work entire length of handle, block mono in I C in cartouche on front; 9" in length. Birds are a tad worn but spoons are in great shape, brightcutting still crisp, marks (M&R) as clear as the day they were struck.
Eagle-&-shield design in sharp relief on bowl back (as shown); oval-end handle, c1810 -- reverse rib, feathered script mono J L on front; 5-3/4" in length. Condition of both bird and spoon is near-mint.
Oval-end handle, block mono B over T L on front; 5-7/8" in length. Bird is lightly struck, but all of its parts seem to be intact. Condition of spoon is excellent, no tipwear.
Bright cut, drops, oval end. Length 5-3/8". Lengthwise script monogram AEM. Overall and mark condition are excellent. Full name mark BAYLEY plus pseudohallmark of a bird. Bayley died in 1799.
Downturned rounded end handle, pouring spout, tipt on back, long drop. The mark is Kane A. Length 15-1/2". Bowl diameter 3-5/8". Weight 7-3/4 troy ounces. The monogram is a script MSM. Overall and mark condition are excellent.