'Plymouth' was introduced in 1911, at the time when tastes were turning from ornamental styles to Colonial Revival; it was a very popular pattern. Multiple threads outline the handle which terminates with a boss. The fork is in excellent condition – hardly, if ever – used, with no monogram or removal. It is 6-3/16 in. and weighs 32 g. It has the Gorham mark and 'sterling' on the reverse.

Jac Rose is a bright-cut pattern made by several manufacturers, but this one is by Gorham, who introduced it in 1885. The entire surface is acid-etched, providing greater contrast for the rose and leaves highlighted by the engraver. The beautiful bowl is used on many of the Gorham Jac Rose servers – pointed with a small flange, with the suggestion of a shell in its interior. The spoon could be used for sugar, marmalade, or as a small berry spoon. The jac rose is again carved into the bowl...

Durgin's 'Bead' is a full-line pattern introduced in 1893 – a very substantial pattern having a tipt end and outlined with fine beads. This is a fine example, with long tines giving the fork a sense of elegance. Condition is excellent, and there is no monogram. Marked with the Durgin logo, its length is 4-7/8 in., and it weighs 12 grams.

Whiting's “Alhambra,” which was introduced in 1880 during a decade full of patterns with exotic references to places and cultures that defined the Romantic period. The handle is a fluted column topped by a geometric form filled with threaded tendrils on a textured background and a central cartouche which contains a script monogram H. The bowl is an elongated shell form with alternating rounded and pointed edges...

Animals – hounds, squirrels, rabbits, and foliage – oak leaves, acorns, berries – decorate the plated handles of this youth knife and fork, with pond lilies and fish on the fork's reverse. The stainless knife blade is marked “Mirrorstele,” (a trademark name registered to Reed & Barton since 1926) and “Reed & Barton.” There are shallow scratches commensurate with age, but the pattern is crisp and there is no indication of wear through the plate.

Clematis is a lovely pattern introduced by Gorham in 1885. It was first acid-etched – that is, the pattern is revealed by etching of the surface with an acid bath – and the details were then hand- engraved to provide the multi-textured surface that is characteristic of this pattern... there is the sense of a vine that follows the form of the spoon's upper handle, with the leaves and flowers springing from that vine...

This lovely Whiting sterling pattern has only recently been identified as “La France,'' having previously been known as “Roses and Scroll” or whatever the viewer might choose. It doesn't seem to have been a full line pattern, but one that people are often drawn to. The handle shows a softening of the pattern and is punctuated by a shallow N monogram. The pointed bowl has light but even remnants of gold wash with a small and very shallow dent that is mentioned for clarity...

This fork is an example of a prolific maker of reproduction pieces that were marketed around 1900 – coinciding with the rise of the Arts & Crafts movement – as hand-made items based on antique forms. The mark on the underside – (925)(000) – is a uniform mark on all pieces I've ever seen. Some are plain, and some are decorated with a wreath, ribbons, and a shield like this fork. All pieces appear to be heavy and a tad awkward in their execution...

Condition of this 150-year old salt spoon is very good. The threaded handle is double struck and encloses a honeysuckle vine which forms a cartouche on both sides. There is a monogram in script, Kettell, in the cartouche on the top of the handle. Even the bowl is free of salt damage. The length is 3-11/16 in. and it weighs 10g. Westervelt's mark is on the back of the handle.

This set of 6 stainless fish knives and forks probably dates from the early to middle part of the 20th Century. The form is Old English Tipt, a timeless pattern. Harrison Fisher has been a knife maker in Sheffield (England) for over 150 years. The set is very good quality – nicely balanced and in very good condition – I would guess they were little used. The knife is 8 in. and the fork is 6.75 in. They are marked with HF & Co...

The sculptural design of this piece is similar to those of Jensen and others using new forms in the Scandinavian silver world just after the turn of the 20th Century. This graceful version of a lily, cut to reveal its curvilinear elements on an otherwise flat surface, is very similar to one done in sterling (ca. 1910) also by Axel Prip which appears in sterling as shown on p...