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.

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.

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.

Downturned fiddle handle, sugarloaf shoulders, feathered script mono E L on front; 12-7/8" in length. Overall condition is fine. Mark is I.WELCH, as listed in Hollan's "Virginia Silversmiths." Fincastle, then as now, is a small town a tad northwest of Roanoke.

Forward-tipt fiddle handle, c1840 -- high sugarloaf shoulders, feathered script mono L C lightly engraved on reverse. Length is 8-1/4". Weight is a hefty 17.5 T oz. Some tinewear, otherwise condition is fine.

A rare form for sugar tongs, the arms at a 90-degree angle with the bend. Dual wrigglework decorative lines on both sides of arms and around bend, the decorative work carried through on the spoon nips. Never engraved, 5-1/2" long. Excellent condition. Until recently, Merchant was said to have worked in NYC, c1795. Now, Hollan's tome on VA silversmiths clearly identifies him as working in Dumfries...

Benjamin Mead is cited as an Annapolis silversmith (and storekeeper, etc) by Whisker et al in "Maryland Clockmakers" and allied craftsmen. Quoted are excerpts from the Maryland Gazette of 9/11/1819, 11/11/19 and 1/11/21, which depict Mead's work. This spoon appears to be a modified coffin-end -- that is, the handle end is sliced lengthwise rather than clipped (see pic). It has square shoulders, is 8-5/8" long, and the mono is E M. Overall condition is excellent...

Early downturned fiddle handles, no shoulders, prominent crescent drop on bowl back, feathered script mono M B C L on front. Length is 8-3/4". Weight is 3 T oz. 8 dwt. Condition is near-mint, extended bowl tips unworn.

Pinched-waist fiddle handle, pointed shoulders, unusual broad drop on bowl back (see pic). Mono is W M H in shaded script lettering on front of handle. Length is 13-1/4" with 3-3/8" round bowl. Weight is 5 T oz. Condition is near mint.

18th century oval-end handle, feathered script mono F on front; 7-1/8" in length. Condition is excellent throughout. The mark is exceptional in its crispness, as is the distinctive eagle of Capt. William Richardson, which came with the business when Cowan took it over in 1808.

Fiddle arms with flared shoulders, oval nips, feathered script mono L H A on bend; 6-1/4" in length. Good weight. Condition is excellent. Marked on one arm G&H -- Gale, who manufactured the piece in NYC, and Hayden, who retailed the piece in Charleston, SC. Marked on the other arm with the date of manufacture -- 1846.