My Favorite Things  
  $60.00

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Old Friends  
648b   $ 85

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Wood & Hughes 1870's Viola is an embellished Gothic design. It strikes a good balance between having a clean, uncluttered look, yet incorporating enough detail to draw the eye into what is there. This example is a 7 3/4" long preserve or jelly spoon. The bowl is plum-shaped with a central rib and scalloped edges. The interior is finished in a bronze-colored matte gold and engraved in a stylized leaf and grass motif that is vaguely Egyptian Revival in manner. It is well-companioned with the ... Click for details

Old Friends  
645b   $ 65

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This sterling silver sauce or small gravy ladle was made by Stone Associates in 1937 or later after the Stone operation was acquired by Henry Heywood, as indicated by the h in a shield included in the mark. It is also stamped with a "B," probably for Charles Brown, one of the craftsmen in the shop. It is 5 7/8" long, and weighs 1.5 T. oz. It is a fiddle shape design, with a reverse tipt, arched end. There is a handsome block letter "W A * E" monogram. The backside of the bowl retains hammer... Click for details

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
1928   $195.00

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Several years ago when Gorham was still in the Providence area and owned by Brown Forman, they decided to reissue some popular early patterns. We bought this piece "new and in the bag," though not directly from the factory. It has seen no use since then (1995 or so) and is in pristine condition. Length 9 inches, 3.06 oz. Troy, mark "Gorham Sterling."

Old Friends  
644b   $ 35

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Some iteration of a pointed antique design, such as Puritan or Mothers, this 5 7/8" long sterling silver olive or pickle fork by Gorham is in the arts and crafts mode. It has a reverse tipt end, a design on the drop with the heel, and a crossbar joining the two tines. The monogram is in keeping with the style of the piece, being a block letter "H E * C." It is weighty at .8 T. oz. and in flawless condition.

Old Friends  
643b   $ 38

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One of the premier silver houses of the Midwest, Cincinnati's Duhme & Co. represented quality. A modest piece, this 6" long sterling silver sugar spoon is the best of what it is. The design is an engraved Lily of the Valley, which was produced by many makers c. 1885. In this instance the engraving is set against a matte finish ground. The finish carries into the ribbed bowl which has a gold wash surface. The backside has a script "H.M." monogram, and is otherwise plain save for the Duhme emb... Click for details

Old Friends  
641b   $ 18

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Lunt's Chippendale (1910) is a pierced pattern that closely resembles the furniture style with which the Chippendale style is closely associated. This 5 5/8" long sterling silver olive or pickle fork is a good quality example in excellent condition, and without a monogram or removal. It is stamped on the reverse with the early Lunt "RLB" mark and the word Sterling.

Old Friends  
639b   $ 60

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Frank Smith's Newport Shell is an elegantly proportioned shell and bead design. This item is a 4 3/4" long, solid sterling silver sardine server. Generally a heavier line, this is heavier yet at 1.4 T. oz. It was retailed by Boston's Bigelow, Kennard & Co., as stamped on the reverse. This company often offered silver that was enhanced in some way, and that may account for the added weight of this. The tine area is seven pronged and measures 2" wide. There is a script "B" monogram. The con... Click for details

Old Friends  
638b   $ 1250

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Gorham's circa 1870 Morning Glory is a design that sought faithfully to replicate a natural form in silver. This effort was shared by a number of makers, including George Sharp, Whiting, and Wood & Hughes. This 13 1/2" long soup ladle is of a scale that exhibits the artisanship of this work to its fullest. The design employs a tubular shank that is joined to the bowl with decorative leaves. The leaves cleverly serve a dual purpose as they are also a part of the engineering of the piece. The e... Click for details

Old Friends  
637b   $ 35 pair HOLD

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This matched baby fork and spoon were made by the Webster Company, likely in the first quarter of the 20th century. They are in the arts & crafts manner, with hammered surfaces. Both pieces have looped handles which provide finger grips. The spoon is 3 1/4" long, and the fork is 3". Neither piece is monogrammed. The fork has the maker's mark and "Sterling" stamped on the outside of the handle, while the spoon has markings on the inside of the loop. The condition is excellent. There are mi... Click for details

Old Friends  
633b   $ 110 set

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Whiting's Bead (1880) is indeed a bead design, but it also incorporates a robust scallop shell at the end of the handle, providing an enhanced design element that conveys the refinement of a classic kings pattern. This pair are a matched salad serving set, with both pieces monogrammed "MJT" in script lettering. The spoon is 8 3/4" long, and the fork 8 1/2". The two together weigh 3.7 T. oz. The bowl of the spoon and tine area on the fork are elongated and have rippled edges. The backsides a... Click for details

Old Friends  
630b   $ 48 HOLD

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Flanders (Old) is a pattern that Alvin acquired through its purchase of Simons Brothers of Philadelphia. This 6 1/8" long, all sterling silver cucumber server is an early example that was actually made by Simons as indicated on the S in a shield emblem on the reverse. The markings include the patent date of 8-28, with a rubbed 1900. The design is an appealing scroll, which repeats on the shoulders of the particularly well-executed pierced serving end. There is no monogram or removal. The co... Click for details

Old Friends  
629b   $ 48

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International's Cambridge is a late 19th century design that borrowed from earlier patterns. The handle is bordered beading that graduates upward in size to the top, where it is complimented with two small flanking scrolls, joining in arch fashion. The bowl is decorative, in that it has scalloped shoulders that repeated the bead and scroll motif, and a pointed tip. The item is a 7 5/8" long preserve or jelly spoon. It is moderately heavy at 1.9 T. oz. It is without a monogram or removal and... Click for details

Old Friends  
627b   $ 35 HOLD

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Gorham, along with many other firms, produced numerous engraved designs in the 1880's especially that do not seem to be as appreciated today as they were in their time. It may be that the craft of these items is some subtle to compete with the more extravagant, and perhaps more obvious, High Victorian pieces that capture the collector's eye today. This 5 3/4" long sugar spoon in Gorham's engraved Chrysanthemum is a piece of compelling design, if quite ordinary in its purpose, and having been a... Click for details

Old Friends  
625b   $ 80 set

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Dolly Madison would seem to be a misnomer for this 1920's Gorham pattern, as it so looks to be inspired by Old English, and Dolly Madison was such an foe of the English. The musing aside, these are four, matched, sterling silver luncheon or tea forks in this pattern which is a rounded antique with a lined border, and an upturned, slightly tipt, end. They are have the same script "MBT" monogram and are 7" long. They are also quite heavy, with the four weighing 5.0 T. oz. They are in very good... Click for details

Old Friends  
624sh   $ 95 pair HOLD

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Whiting's Arabesque is pattern follows after Moorish design, but is dominated by the griffin figure set in the middle of the handle. The pair is an original youth set, both engraved with the same feathered script "GAC" monogram. The fork is 6 1/4" long, and the spoon at 6" is slightly larger than an average teaspoon. The fork in particular seems extra weight, and has a thick shank as illustrated. The condition is excellent. There minimal polishing wear on the chest of the griffin (the highe... Click for details