Typical of the tension between form and design that evolved in Europe around 1900, the traditional pointed antique form of this cake knife and its sculptural, floral decoration combine in a pleasing silver handle which is complemented by an elegantly simpler gold-washed blade with light engraving. The handle is marked only with a small stamp '800' which doesn't conform to most Continental guarantee marks other than, perhaps, Italy...

“Louis XIV” mustard spoon / ladle by Henry Hebbard is marked with the patent date of 1847 and with the retailer J. Rudd & Co. The pattern is double-struck, and is in fine condition. There are no bends, and the bowl has an excellent finish. There is a lovely period script monogram MEM. The length is 5.25 inches, the bowl 7/8 inches, and the weight is 20 grams.

The Chrysanthemum pattern was introduced by Gorham in 1885, together with many other bright-cuts that were emerging at that time. The bright-cut pieces were hand-engraved – no two are exactly alike, and were labor intensive. The bowl of this attractive sauce ladle has chrysanthemums engraved in the acid-etched bowl as well. There are no monograms or removals, scratches or bends or dings. The length is just under 6 inches (hard to measure!) and the weight is 34 grams...

“Bead” is one of those early coin patterns that was made by several makers, although the earliest association is with John Polhemus / Polhamus, ca. 1850. This design appears on the underside as well as the top and is marked simply Jones, Ball & Poor, a Boston maker / retailer, as well as a small and faint script monogram, Cheever. The condition is quite good, with light age-related wear – no bends or dents or pits...

This simple and beautiful coin silver serving spoon from a fine old Boston maker is in wonderful condition – an Oval Thread handle balanced by an elegant teardrop bowl, with almost no scratches at all – clearly well cared for in its 150 years – no dings, dents, or bends to be seen or felt. The front of the handle is engraved with the name Abbott in Gothic lettering, and it's 8-5/8 in. long. Weight is 66 grams.

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...

The Engraved Lily pattern was a somewhat standard bright-cut pattern – that is, it was made by several makers and was very popular ca. 1885. The lily blossoms follow the curvature of the handle, punctuated with diamond cuts. This youth set is marked with Sterling and the name of Harris & Schafer, a respected Washington DC retailer, which is unlikely to have been the maker. The set has been used but not abused...

The Classical elements of Gorham's Pompeii pattern – volutes, acanthus, anthemion – are as crisp as when they were new, with no heel, knife, or stacking scratches. Amazing that these four dinner-size (7.5 inch) forks could have survived over 150 years with no monogram! They were likely made in the year the pattern was introduced (1868) because they are coin (Gorham phased out coin silver in 1868) and they have 'Patent Applied For' which assures an early production. Weight is 212 grams.

This lovely little fork is probably a place fork – ramekin? Pickle? Dessert? At 5.4 inches, it seems a bit short for anything else. It could be used as a small serving fork. The pattern dates to 1898 – 3 years before Howard Sterling Co. went into receivership. The handle has a fluted texture from which spring acanthus leaves forming the lacy architecture of the remaining handle. The ovate blade of the fork is simple but graceful. There is no monogram...

This charming lemon fork has a handle with gold lemons and green leaves cut out on the handle which terminates in traditionally splayed tines. The condition is excellent, the enamel intact, without scratches or bends. Length is 4.75 inches and the weight is 8 grams.

The Zephyr pattern, introduced by Wood & Hughes in 1870, was made with a variant – this one – that was without flanges on the handle, revealing a Pointed Antique form. The double-struck pattern (that is, it appears on both the front and back of the implements) is delicate, with a sort of thread enclosing a suggestion of filigree in the midsection of the handle. The condition is very good, with only very, very superficial scratches...

The Old English form of the 6 sterling spoons is dressed with a lovely and traditional diamond hand-cut and engraved design by highly respected London silversmith Thomas Dealtry who was entered into the goldsmiths' registry in 1765. They are hallmarked for 1802 with the mark Dealtry registered in 1799. The spoons are 5 inches long, and their condition is very, very good. There are no dents or pits, and no bends to the handles, which have an appropriate (and attractive) Gothic 'P' monogram...