The Gaylord Farm Sanatorium was a tuberculosis rehabilitation center in Wallingford, CT, and was run by New Haven County, CT. The Gaylord Silvercraft Workshop was established there in 1925 to provide vocational and occupational training for patients. It produced many items of jewelry and household / table items until its closing in 1944; those were sold in the Workshop store and to small dealers and stores...

Schohay & Ludwig was a short-lived Philadelphia partnership (ca. 1867-73) producing items of both coin and sterling silver. The marmalade spoon is marked coin. Its handle is twisted with a wide flat terminal, engraved with volutes and blossoms; there is a central field with a script monogram EH. The heavy bowl is ovate with notches on the rim, engraved stems and leaves, and repousee fruits and berries. There are traces of gold. It is 7 in. long and weights 28 g...

Arthur Stone (1847-1938) is often called “The Dean of American Silversmiths.” As an English born and trained silversmith, Arthur Stone's work embodied the fine workmanship associated with English silver, and with the individuality he found so appealing in early American forms. He produced both ecclesiastical and domestic silver. The shop he opened in 1901 trained many fine silversmiths in the hand-wrought method. This serving fork, in a Pointed Antique style, is heavy...

The Fiddle Thread pattern is one of the most representative of the coin period. These spoons are completely unmarked but are doubtless (guaranteed) coin silver. They're in fabulous condition – no dents, burrs, not even age-expected surface scratches – surprising for their 150+ years. There are two sets of monograms, an Old English M on the front and a script FH on the back of the handles. Length of the spoons is 5.6 in. and their weight is 98 g.

Long admired for innovative design, Denmark's silver makers have produced admirable silver, often associated with abstract organic interpretations. This serving fork is such a piece. The two tines and lower handle are flat and mirror-like but terminate in an abbreviated openwork of reeds and berries enclosed in a frame of blossoms. Three irregular lines suggesting water separate the two areas and provide an interesting contrast in the single-die construction. The length is 8-5/16 in...

In addition to generations of households, Ercuis his been a well-known and highly respected French manufacturer that has supplied cutlery since the 1860s to embassies and hotels throughout the world. The 12 pieces probably date from the second half of the 20th century, but have been relatively unused. A classic style, the hollow handles of both knives and forks are securely attached to the blades...

This fork is not marked, but surely silver plate and probably English. The condition is excellent, with no plate missing, no bubbling or flaking, despite its (probably) 100 years. “Prince Albert,” named for Queen Victoria's consort, was introduced before 1850 and became a standard English pattern which proved popular in the United States during the coin period. The bread fork – a Victorian introduction – was meant to be passed with the bread plate. This one is 6.75 in.

Despite only a “sterling” marking, the design elements of this spoon are clearly Philadelphian. The stem is Old English with multi-field outlining, leaving an area for a monogram, JIS. The bowl is pointed with a slight flange that is described by a zigzag element, and the bowl has a geometric, aesthetic center which is both bright-cut and engraved. The condition is excellent – no bends or dents, and no wear to the surface. Lots of reflectivity! Length is 7.8 in. and weight is 42 g.

Christofle is perhaps France's most prestigious silver maker, dating from about 1840. 'Marly' is its oldest pattern, still in production. In addition to its innovative designs, Christofle also took the early lead on advancing the plating process which it had licensed from Elkington to make wares which were more heavily plated than their competitors and attractive to prestigious customers from all over the world...

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.

Ercuis is a prestigious maker of French silverplate, established in the 1860s. 'Lauriers' is an elegant pattern reminiscent of the French Empire style. A thread outlines the handle, and an oval medallion space is created by acanthus leaves punctuating the top, with delicate branches of laurel/bay leaves and berries closing off that space. The pieces are double-struck, and a beautiful MG monogram is placed in the medallion of the reverse side...

Simple but elegant and classic, the cannon handle of the knife is topped with a finial that echoes the tip. The handle is engraved with what appear to be a sort of diapering of dart-and-egg motifs along the shaft, with a border of acanthus. The blade is also classic, with engraved foliage relieving the otherwise plain surfact...