The blade features a restrained and well executed bit of engraving (please see third enlargement) with brite-cut foliage and shaded flowers.
Porter was a highly talented silversmith, but his work is inconsistent and sometimes sloppy. These items showcase his skills at their best. The solder joints are subtle and superbly executed, the hammering is uniform and attractive, the piercings are symmetrical...
Please see third enlargement for mark. The craftsman is Charles W. Brown
You'd be hard pressed to find better examples than these.
The gilt, ruffled bowl is a tour-de-force of Victorian era engraving. Please see our third enlargement for a better view.
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With the added cachet (we were going to say "snob appeal", but then remembered that our faithful readers, all two of them who remain, aren't snooty) of a Cartier retailer's mark.
Bought new, it costs just about as much as a small Mercedes, but here what a deal!!
Marked only "coin," back in the day we would have hastened to read through many musty issues of "Silver Magazine" in order to find the maker of this fine ladle, but now, in our dotage, we will leave this task to you, dear reader.
With sinuous curves and whimsical spade-shaped feet, this is truly a little classic of English Art Nouveau silver.
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Compare @ 299.00 with those folks who Replace your stuff.
By the way, dear reader, our late lamented S 7000 has finally died a peaceful death and we're using a rather primitive point and shoot until the new camera arrives, so please bear with our reduced quality images.
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Designed by the great French scultor Antoine Heller, these figures have attitude!!
We have always been fond of Gorham's first high style designs, especially those in the manner of Mary Todd Lincoln's tea service.
Readers of our little web page know that we're obsessed with comparison shopping, but we were slightly shocked to find just one lone Chrysanthemum teaspoon (item 123611846786) had recently sold on the big bad auction site for 49 American moneys. Holy guacamole!
Those of you with long memories will remember when Martha Stewart featured some of our "finds" in her article (Glints of Genius, pp 154-9, November 2008) about collecting bright cut silver. This item is of a higher quality than anything which is pictured there...
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I do not recall ever having seen a finer pair of master salt spoons.
The engine turned work on this mug is of above average quality.
Though there is a slight condition issue (minor dent just above base; see fourth photo), the quality of repousée chasing throughout this piece is exceptional. All detail is perfectly preserved, even the delicate hammer marks left by the silversmith's tools.