Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2519   $$$

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Let's crawl into our first new offering of 2024 at a turtle's pace with this handsome utensil, originally intended for eating (gasp!!) turtle stew, which was a trendy and popular dish among those folks who were of a means to spring for the tureen, a set of twelve forks, and twelve dishes all to match, back in 1890.

See item 20207411 at the Rhode Island School of Design's Gorham collection for an example of the tureen, and item 2020406 for an example of this fork, or simply search "Gorham... Click for details

Old Friends  
5562f   $34.00

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Among Gorham's oldest full line patterns, New Tipt was introduced in 1871.

Decidedly distinct from a standard Tipt design, it incorporates period Greek and/or Egyptian Revival motifs such as palmettes, reeds, and beading, set on a broad, pointed end, handle with a tubular shank.

This example is a 5 5/8" long, .7 T. oz., early pastry or pickle fork.

This has an Old English letter "B" monogram on the handle backside, and is in flawless estate condition, free of... Click for details

Old Friends  
5557f   $115.00

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An expressive pattern from renowned Gorham designer Antoine Heller, Old Medici features a variety of figures and imagery drawn from the Italian Renaissance period.

This example, a 7 1/4" long, 1.54 T. oz. preserve or jelly spoon portrays a matronly looking woman in festooned garb. She is carrying a tray laden with fruit with a basket or other container hanging below this.

Additional details include a gargoyle, a pair of doves with raised wings, and leafy tracery.

Most references... Click for details

Old Friends  
5554f   $32.00

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One of Wendt's less commonly found patterns, Osiris was issued in 1870, and, as the name implies, is derivative of the Egyptian Revival mode popular in the period.

It features a lined handle with a fan, i.e. palmette, end. This in turn is framed by two acanthus leaves at the point where the handle turns tubular.

This example is 5 7/8" long, relatively substantial weight 1.0 T. oz., teaspoon that was retailed by carriage trade New York City jeweler "Howard & Co.," as... Click for details

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  
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

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

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  
5539f   On Hold

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Hanau encompasses a broad category of silver produced in the late 19th to early 20 centuries in and around the German city of this name.

Stylistically it often mirrors silver from other countries, particularly France, and from earlier periods.

Marking is idiosyncratic, often even obscure, employing pseudo hallmarks that are generally challenging to identify.

This example is a 6" long, 1.1 T. oz. piece known as a "monkey spoon," which characteristically has a handle with a hooked... 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  
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