Teaspoon with oval-end fiddle handle, flared shoulders, feathered script mono E B on front; 5-3/8" long, excellent condition. Peabody worked first in Fayetteville, NC, beginning in 1823, and by 1836, according to B. Caldwell's "Silversmiths in Tennessee," he was working in Nashville. The shape of Peabody's fiddle is interesting -- perhaps not unique, but well formed, and an interesting shape to hold and contemplate.

Short front rib, 7-lobe shell drop, never engraved, 3-3/4" long. Only one is marked -- N (pellet) L, as shown. Condition of both is excellent. There were 2 Nathaniels in the Lang family of silversmiths. The first, 1736-64, was the son of Jeffrey; the second, 12757-1824, was the son of Jeffrey's brother, Richard. No doubt, these spoons were made by the second, c1770-80.

Peabody's spoons are distinctive in design --slim oval-end downturned fiddle handles -- nothing quite like them by other makers. This piece has flared shoulders and a short reverse rib. The mono is EB in a feathered script. Length is 5-3/8". Condition is near-mint. This is probably the same John Peabody who worked earlier in Fayetteville, NC. The spoons pictured on p. 125 of "Silversmiths of NC" are not at all similar in design to this piece.

Retailed by Nehemiah Bassett, also of Albany -- downturned fiddle handle, pointed shoulders, incised pointed arch drop, feathered script mono C V A on front; 9" in length; each weighs 40 grams. Bird mark, as show in pic, is attributed by McGrew to Green Hall.

Oval-end handle with brightcutting and roulette work its entire length (see pic); slashed drop, reverse rib, feathered script mono L F in circular cartouche on front; 5-1/4" long. Excellent condition throughout. A remarkable piece by a rare Albany maker.

Brightcutting and roulette work extend two-thirds of the way down arms and around bend; square shoulders, round nips, ornate feathered script A W in cartouche on bend; 6" in length. Condition is near mint.

Classic coffin-end handle, molded drop, script JC on front; 9-3/8" long, excellent weight. Mint condition, extended bowl tips unworn.

We come across these small coffin-end ladles -- mustards, gravy, sauce -- from time to time and they all seem to be made in New England, particularly in the City of Providence. It is for that reason (and the lack of any other candidate) that we attribute this neat piece to William Burr (see pix of WB mark). This ladle has a cut-cornered fiddle end and is 5-1/4" long. The mono is C L in feathered script. Condition is excellent throughout.

Pinched-waist fiddle handles, pointed shoulders, feathered script mono M P on front; 5-1/2" in length. Condition is near-mint throughout, extended bowl tips unworn.

Oval-end handle, drop, reverse tipt, feathered script mono I M G on front; 8-3/4" long. Sadtler's PS mark is shown with the Baltimore pseudohallmark eagle head. NOTE: the incised 1 and 0 shown in mark pic are believed to be museum cataloging numbers.

Oval-end handle, drop, reverse tipt, feathered script mono P C L on front; 4-1/3". Excellent condition.

Josephine was Mary Todd Lincoln's silver pattern. This piece was retailed by Bigelow Bros. & Kennard, Boston. It is 7-1/2" in length. Note the crisp foliate decoration on the back of the bowl (see pic). Never engraved; condition is near-mint.