Catalog

Offered is a very nice early American coin silver teaspoon by noted Philadelphia silversmith and jeweler Nicholas Le Huray (or LeHuray) Jr., working circa 1821-46 in that city. Nicholas Junior's work is always desirable and usually very finely done. This spoon is no exception, with a lively period engraved script monogram, and nice proportions. Please scroll through all the pictures by clicking on the first picture. This spoon measures about 5 3/4 inches in length and weighs about 13 grams. ...

NOT FOR SALE - Here's a challenge - a circa 1790-1810 American coin silver tablespoon marked only IS in a large serrated punch, with a nicely engraved period script monogram of GJM and a V-shaped drop. This piece measures about 9 1/2 inches in length and weighs about 59 grams. It came in a lot with a piece by Caleb Bentley of DC, VA and MD, and it has the look of rural VA, MD or PA. I haven't seen this particular mark before, and am hoping someone else has. If you can solve this piece (or gi...

Offered is a very fine example of the early maker's mark of noted Philadelphia silversmith Edward P. Lescure, who was working between 1822 and about 1836, and then intermittently through about 1861. While Lescure's later mark is well-known and seen periodically, this early mark is all but unknown, and perhaps only a tiny fraction of Lescure's extant work bears this mark. This spoon measures about 5 7/8 inches in length and weighs about 18 grams. It has a faded period engraved script monogram....

Offered is a scarce example of the mark of Washington, DC watchmaker and jeweler Jacob Karr, working in that city between 1857 and 1905; he died in 1917 at the age of 81, and was born in Germany, coming to the U.S. at the age of 11. For at least part of his tenure he was located at 348 Pennsylvania Avenue. Karr is known primarily as a watchmaker in that invented the "celebrated American chronometer"; he also serviced the chronometers and equipment at the Naval Observatory in Washington. This ...

Offered is a nicely decorated American coin silver turned-handle spreader or butter knife bearing a manufacturer's mark for James Watts of Philadelphia, circa the 1860s. This piece has engraved decoration and a period engraved script monogram. It measures about 7 1/2 inches in length and weighs about 33 grams. Condition is fair to good, with some wear and scratching consistent with normal use, but no bends, splits or repairs. All in all a nice piece for display or everyday use!

This piece is not for sale, but help me solve the mystery of who made this piece, and I will send you a very nice coin silver spoon in thanks! These twist-arm American coin silver sugar tongs measure about 7 1/8 inches in length and weigh about 49 grams. The maker's mark is a fairly crude SR in a serrated punch. Please take a look at all the pictures. The engraved arms and circular reserve might indicate a Western Pennsylvania or Midwestern, or perhaps Shenandoah Valley origin, but so far I'...

Offered is an extraordinary set of four early American coin silver dessert spoons by Washington, DC silversmiths Joseph Bentley and William Wood, circa 1809. This brief partnership, conducted at the Washington Navy Yard, lasted only from December 1808 through the end of August 1809, when it was dissolved by mutual consent. Silver bearing the mark of this partnership is of course extremely rare, and this set of dessert spoons with extremely well preserved maker's marks is very likely the best s...

Offered is an excellent pair of Philadelphia coin silver dessert spoons by noted silversmiths Lewis & Smith, circa 1805-11, with a pair of Philadelphia coin silver teaspoons by Edward Lownes of the same date, all bearing the same exceptionally engraved period script monogram. These spoons were located separately many years apart, but originate from the same service and have now been reunited. The dessert spoons measure about 6 7/8 inches in length and the teaspoons about 5 7/8 inches in length...

Offered is a very nice American coin silver teaspoon by silversmith Guy Loomis circa 1825-45; it has a clear maker's mark for Loomis and is engraved with period script initials "LL" for the original owner. By style, it could date either to Loomis' time in Sheffield, Massachusetts (circa 1816-37), or to his Erie period, from 1837 to 1874. This piece measures about 5 13/16 inches in length and weighs about 14 grams. Condition is excellent overall, with minor signs of wear from normal use, but n...

Offered is a lovely and quite early George II English sterling silver basting spoon or hash spoon by noted specialist spoonmaker Philip Roker II, working from the 1720s on. The maker's mark on this spoon was registered in August 1720 and used at least through 1735, and this piece is consistent with similar hash spoons with date letters in the 1730s. Interestingly, the marks accompanying Roker's maker's marks are pseudo-hallmarks, apparently occasionally used by Roker to give the appearance of ...

Offered is a lovely set of 19th Century French silver tea or coffee spoons by Paris silversmith François Pamphile Josan; these date to the post-1838 period. The gilding on each spoon is strong, and the design is nicely struck. Each spoon bears Josan's maker's mark and a fineness mark, perhaps for second standard (800/1000 fineness). These spoons are nicely decorated and have no engraved initials or crests, or any sign of erasure. These spoons measure about six inches in length, and the set ...

Offered is a fine carte de visite by important 19th Century photographer George Norman Barnard (1819-1902), who is best known for his important wartime images of the South, first while accompanying General Sherman on his Georgia campaign. Barnard's book, "Photographic Views of Sherman's Campaign", is one of the most important collections of images of the Civil War. Barnard also recorded important images of the destruction in Charleston in around March 1865, and then went on to Columbia and the...

Offered is a gorgeous pair of American coin silver sugar tongs by noted silversmith Harvey Lewis (1783-1835), working in Philadelphia circa 1805-11 in partnership as Lewis & Smith, and working alone in Philadelphia circa 1812-25, before his health declined and he gave up silversmithing. Despite a shorter working career, Harvey Lewis established himself as one of the leading silversmiths of his day in Philadelphia, and his work is nearly always superb. His pieces are represented in every major ...

Another mystery piece and mark, at least to me! Perhaps I've overlooked something obvious about this crested silver cream ladle, circa 1810-25, but I am assuming it to be American coin silver, probably from the New England region. However, I've had no luck tracking down a potential maker, despite a good maker's mark with relatively uncommon initials. The maker's mark is a crude "SL", indicating perhaps more provincial or small-town manufacture, though this is not dispositive. This piece meas...

Offered is a nice American coin silver cream or sauce ladle by well-known silversmith Newell Matson, who worked at various times in NY, OH, IL and WI. This piece is engraved 'Cushman' for the original owner, and has a clear maker's mark. This piece measures about 5 7/8 inches in length and weighs about 17 grams. Condition is excellent, with minimal wear and no dents, splits or repairs. All in all a nice little coin silver service piece!

For your consideration is an interesting late 18th Century style American coin silver spoon, marked "W (pellet) D". This mark has been attributed by Catherine Hollan to Wilson Dalzell (mark B) in her book on South Carolina silversmiths. This spoon measures about 4 15/16 inches in length and weighs about 8 grams. The light weight, unusual shell-back decoration, small bowl size, mark and engraving to the handle indicate to me that it is probably American, but I don't know for sure that it i...

Offered is a fine and rare pair of early American coin silver sugar tongs by the celebrated Philadelphia partnership of Lewis & Smith. Harvey Lewis and Joseph D. Smith worked in partnership from about 1805 to 1811, and produced some of the most finely executed and beautifully engraved silver of their era. Many examples of their excellent hollowware and flatware are extant in public collections.

This piece measures about 6 3/4 inches in length, and weighs about 54 grams. It features a leg...

Offered is a nice Scottish provincial silver spoon by jeweler and silversmith John Pringle, working in Perth circa 1823-60. This piece probably dates to the earlier part of Pringle's career. It is engraved with a period Scottish-style script monogram of JF or IF, and bear's Pringle's maker's mark, struck twice and accompanied by two strikes of a Perth eagle pseudo-hallmark. Please take a look at all the photos. This piece measures about 5 7/16 inches in length and weighs about 14 grams. Con...