Old Friends  
574d   $ 90

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George Gebelein was known for "making fine reproductions and adaptations," and as a collector and authority on silver according to Dorothy Rainwater in "Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers." He was a recognized participant in the Boston arts and crafts movement, and well-established in that city. This example of his work is a 9 5/8" long, just over 2.1 T. oz., serving spoon that is imitative of a c. 1800 coffin end piece with an exposed drop on the heel. It is stamped "Gebelein Ster... Click for details

North Hill Antiques  
270   $450

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Simes, of course, worked in Portsmouth, NH. He made this spoon in 1800 or thereabouts. In appearance, it is fantastic. It has a long tapering handle terminating in an elongated slender bowl, with an unusual double-roulette drop on the bowl back. The mono is a feathered script L C F. Length is 8-3/8". Condition is mint.

Old Friends  
778b   $ 90

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This pair of coin silver tongs measures 6 3/4" long and weighs a moderately heavy 1.7 T. oz. The maker's stamp is "P. Howell," for Paul Howell of New York City c. 1810. He is also referenced as in a partnership with Garrett Eoff on Wall Street, NY, 1805-07. These dates all correlate well with the design of the piece, which is suggestive of coffin end. The arms are plain and lead to a broad, 7/8" wide, arch, but have an angular shift in width rather than a tapered one. The arch has a bold, f... Click for details

Four Lot Antiques  
  $750

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Up for bid is a scarce set of six coffin-end coin silver tablespoons by Ezekiel Burr of Providence, Rhode Island, circa 1805. The spoons measure about 8 3/4 inches long and together weigh 286 grams, or a bit over 9 troy ounces. The handles have chamfered edges and downturned pointed coffin ends. The spoons have an even patina and are monogrammed "JSB" in script capitals on the fronts of the handles. The pieces are marked (EB) in an oval, one of several different marks used by Ezekiel Burr.... Click for details

North Hill Antiques  
263   $150

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Classic coffin design, c1800-10 -- handle tapering from end to bowl; brightcut cartouche and bellflowers on front, feathered script mono J H P in cartouche. Length is 9-3/8". Condition is excellent. Hardy apprenticed with Paul Revere in Boston, and further trained with William Simes in Portsmouth, NH.

North Hill Antiques  
280   $125

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This is a rare variation of the coffin-end style, and it appears to be limited to Utica silversmiths. Instead of the handle end being clipped, it was given a notched corner. This piece is in excellent condition, has the feathered script mono EG on its front, and is 9" in length.

North Hill Antiques  
260   Set of 6 $250

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Coffin-fiddle handle, c1810-15 -- square shoulders, script mono Sally Dean on front; 5-3/4" in length. Mark is Bradbury's B with the Massachusetts eagle and Indian (see pic). Condition of both spoons and marks is near-mint.

North Hill Antiques  
272   $95

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Marked PITMAN in serrated rectangle, one of the marks used by Saunders Pitman of Providence. Yet Saunders died in 1804 - he couldn't have made this spoon. Then who? His son, John K. Pitman, who was trained by his dad, worked with his pop, and simply continued to use the "family punch." Son Pitman is listed in the Flynt & Fales tome on New England silversmiths, but no mark is attributed to him. This is it! Plus, probably, all the other marks attributed to Saunders. You can figure out who ... Click for details

North Hill Antiques  
277   $100

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Classic coffin-end, c1800, straight tapering line from handle end to bowl - incised pointed arch drop, reverse rib, block mono H R on front; 5-3/8" long. Excellent condition throughout.

North Hill Antiques  
266   Ea. $125

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Classic coffin-end spoons from Alexandria, VA - handle tapering straight down from cut- cornered end terminating in bowl with drop on its reverse; feathered script mono B on front; 7-1/2" in length. Very minor tipwear, otherwise condition is excellent.

North Hill Antiques  
267   $50

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Classic coffin-end spoon, straight tapered handle, no fiddle; V-drop on bowl back, block mono L (device) V on front; 5-3/8" long; excellent condition throughout.

North Hill Antiques  
664   $475

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Benjamin Mead is cited as an Annapolis silversmith (and storekeeper, etc) by Whisker et al in "Maryland Clockmakers" and allied craftsmen. Quoted are excerpts from the Maryland Gazette of 9/11/1819, 11/11/19 and 1/11/21, which depict Mead's work. This spoon appears to be a modified coffin-end -- that is, the handle end is sliced lengthwise rather than clipped (see pic). It has square shoulders, is 8-5/8" long, and the mono is E M. Overall condition is excellent. (NOTE: Flynt & Fales, in the... Click for details

North Hill Antiques  
259   Ea. $75, Pair $125

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Newburyport and Amesbury, Mass., silversmith made these near-mint spoons around 1800. They have the classic cut-cornered handle end with a straight tapering line to the bowl, and an unusual incised pointed drop. Mono S M in in block lettering on the front. The spoons are 5-1/4" in length, and are in excellent condition, bowl tips unworn.

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
1214   $90.00

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Boston and Salem Massachusetts circa 1800, length 9 1/8 inches, slight tip wear but heavy and in fine overall condition, monogrammed "H" (obverse, script with flourishes).

North Hill Antiques  
289   $225

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Coffin-end serving spoon, c1810-15 -- no shoulders, no drop, light reverse rib, feathered script mono G on front; 8-7/8" long. Condition is excellent, near mint. We bought this piece several months ago: Warner, should be a snap to find him; probably Delaware, right? Maybe Philadelphia -- maybe a stray southern maker. Well, maybe, but we haven't located him yet. Will keep looking.

North Hill Antiques  
264   $175

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We come across these small coffin-end ladles -- mustards, gravy, sauce -- from time to time and they all seem to be made in New England, particularly in the City of Providence. It is for that reason (and the lack of any other candidate) that we attribute this neat piece to William Burr (see pix of WB mark). This ladle has a cut-cornered fiddle end and is 5-1/4" long. The mono is C L in feathered script. Condition is excellent throughout.