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.

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.

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.

Made by Edward Lang, Salem, Mass., c1770, for Susanna Bernon (1716-1802), the daughter of a prominent Hugenot family. Her initials and name are inscribed on the backs of the handles (see pic). The spoons themselves are in excellent condition, with a deep front rib. Length is 5-5/8".

Crisp spread-wing bird on back of bowl, oval-end handle, feathered script mono H C on front; 5-1/4" long. Condition is near-mint -- both spoon and bird.

In the 1930s, Gebelein was commissioned to design a pattern based on the classic Sheaf-of-Wheat, but unique: a Sheaf-of-Flax. Only a few pieces were produced. This cold meat fork is 6-1/4" long and weighs a hefty 36 grams. It is in mint condition. Several other pieces remain in our collection.

Luncheon forks, 7" in length, feathered script mono RMLM on front, RMW on reverse. Weight is 278 grams, just shy of 9 T oz. Condition is excellent. (Other beaded-edge flatwear available.)

4 broad tines with decorative etching, 2" wide; Gothic mono C F on front, later script Jan. 1, 1874 on reverse; 8-1/2" in length, 2.5 T oz in weight. Condition is near-mint. Other Cottage flatware available.

Coffin-fiddle handle, c1810 -- square shoulders, feathered script mono L T on front; 9-3/8" long. Weight is over 1.5 T oz. Condition is excellent, no tipwear at all.

Downturned fiddle handle, flared shoulders, script mono T.A. Hatch on front; 8-5/8" long. Combined weight is a tad over 3 T oz. Overall condition is excellent, mark is outstanding (see pic).

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...

Made by E. Jaccard & Co., St. Louis -- at 8-7/8" in length, it is a mid-sized ladle suitable for serving soup out of a small crock, or gravy out of a large bowl, or grog out of a middlin'-sized cup, or perhaps it is an oyster ladle used to pluck the briny shellfish out of whatever they are served in. In the event, it is a neat piece, with a pinched-waist fiddle handle, high pointed shoulders and a 2-7/8" oval bowl, and engraved on the front the letters B.C.A.M.A...