Baird is listed is Hollan's "Virginia Silversmiths." He began his career as a silversmith in 1802 in Petersburg, VA; by 1806 he was plying his trade in Natchez, MS, and from 1813-38 he was working in Kentucky -- Paris, Washington and then Maysville. This piece has an 18thC-style pointed-end handle, and an interesting and unusual squared drop on the bowl back; the handle has a reverse rib. The mono on front is a shaded feathered script D P B...

Downturned fiddle handle with ornamental cut-outs at base of fiddle; pointed shoulders which extend over rim of bowl to create a decorative (and probably unique) design (see pic); cut-cornered (coffin-end) drop on bowl back; prominent rib on back of handle, feathered script mono B on front. Length is 12-1/2". Round bowl is 3-3/8" in diameter. Mark is T. CAIN. with Masonic pseudos. Condition is near-mint.

Set consists of 3 pieces: pot, sugar bowl and creamer -- cast basket-of-flower finials on pot and sugar, amidst repousse shells and flowers on domed lids (see pix). Each piece has an 8-lobed body, with applied bands at shoulder and base; the set has never been engraved. Pot is 10-1/2" high x 11-3/8 across handle and spout. Total weight is 73 Troy oz.

Rare form in American silver. this piece was made about 1840 -- 4" diameter bowl with cast handle and hook for suspending the strainer over punch bowl. Length over handle is 5-5/8". Marked J.CONNING MOBILE (see pix. Condition is excellent throughout.

Made by R & W Wilson, Philadelphia, c1840 -- blade is 14-1/2" long and is in the shape of a fish, with styllized scales, gills and fins. Fork is 13-1/8" long, its 5 long tines with foliate and scroll decoration. Pattern is on both sides of the handle. Mono is a feathered script JFCC. Weight is 12.5+ T oz. Condition is outstanding throughout.

Downturned fiddle handles, c1825 -- reverse tipt, 6 with slightly pointed shoulders, 6 with rounded shoulders, all with a feathered script mono T.W.B. on front; 7" in length. All in near-mint condition.

Hand-raised baluster-form urns on circular pedestal base, cast foliate handles, body with repousse flowers, foliage and scrolls surrounding reserves on both sides, one with a feathered script mono F V, the other vacant. Handle height is 4-3/4:, diameter 4-1/2", and weight 18 Troy oz. Condition is excellent.

In the beaded-edge pattern -- 14-1/2" blade in shape of fish and 13-1/2" fork with 2-3/4" tines. Weight is a hefty 12.5 T oz. Condition is near-mint throughout. This set is suitable for serving salmon, sturgeon, and perhaps a big-muddy catfish with a minimum weight of 20 pounds.

Oval-end handle, c1790 -- pointed arch drop, reverse tipt, ornate feathered script mono L M on front. Length is 9-3/8". Combined weight is 22+ T oz. Condition is excellent, extended bowl tips unworn. Bowne worked in Middletown Twp., NJ, and NYC, from 1778-1818.

Hanoverian, c1740-50 -- prominent deep front rib, long rattail extending 4/5 of the way down bowl back; block mono M V A on reverse; 7-3/4" in length. Heavy -- each spoon weighs nearly 2.5 T oz. Condition is excellent, with just the merest touch of tipwear.

Downturned fiddle-handled teaspoons, c1810 -- no shoulders, strong reverse rib, ornate feathered script mono D M B on front. Length is 5-3/4". Condition is near-mint -- extended bowl tips unworn, birds with all of their feathers

VanRensselaer was probably working in Albany when he made this spoon. (He later worked in NYC.) It has a short front rib, and has a tongue and double-molded drop on the bowl back, which is perhaps unique (see pic); mono on reverse is E over I (device) V in shaded block letters. Length is 8-1/8". Condition on this 250-year-old spoon is near mint, bowl tip unworn.