Catalog: Silver: Sterling

properly known as a "pie knife," length ten inches, light scratches on front of blade but good overall condition, weight 2.93 Troy ounces, monogrammed with a lovely Art Nouveau script "S."

length 7 1/4 inches, weight 1.38 oz. Troy, no monogram, some scratches on blade as shown (we've exaggerated them, here) in third enlargement but fine overall condition.

Excellent condition, monogrammed "Theodora", looks like an ocean liner up there on your screen but actual length is 3 1/2 inches. Not an easy piece to find in this pattern.

1840, engine turned lid and base with applied cast and chased border, 3 by 1 5/8 by .75 inches, gilt interior, well constructed and heavy (3.17 oz. Troy). There has been a monogram removed from the rectangular cartouche, but it requires a trained eye to detect this.

with finely executed naturalistic engraving, matte finish, gilt interior, 2 3/4 inches high, top diameter: 2 inches, weight 3 oz. Troy, monogrammed "B.K" and something else (in Russian script) which you can see it in photo number three. A kind reader has told us that it means "to your health." There was one small dent that's been tapped out, and it's good work. Aside from that the condition is excellent. Click your mouse and then reach for the vodka; this is a lovely piece of silverware.

order numbers 170 (datemark for 1900) and S2902 (datemark obscured), height 3 3/4 inches, weight 4.42 oz. Troy, no monogram, a few very minor dents here and there but excellent overall condition.

first standard (in Belgium this is .900); length 3 3/4 inches, bird measures 1 7/8 by 1 3/8; excellent condition, no monogram. A truly patriotic embellishment for your dining table.

die rolled border and engraved cartouche centering monogram "Des." (or perhaps it's Wes, or even Ves?) diameter 1 3/4, height 2 inches, weight a pleasantly hefty 2 oz. Troy, some light wear to engraving but fine overall condition, marked only "sterling / 11".

engraved on reverse of blade, length 10 3/8 inches, monogrammed with Old English style "F" (?), excellent condition, weight 2.62 Troy ounces.

Banks and Biddle Company, length 8 1/4 inches, excellent condition, monogrammed "C" (script, obverse). A classic example of Philadelphia style bright cut engraving. Marked with trademark only, but our guess is that it's sterling rather than coin silver.

G. Keller, Paris circa 1920. Fine condition, no monogram, good weight, 2 3/4 by 1 inches. I could think of many uses for this on your nightstand but would probably get myself into trouble by mentioning them...

craftsman Arthur Hartwell, height 3 1/4; diameter 7 1/4 inches, weight 14 Troy ounces, monogrammed on base as shown in fourth enlargement, some very minor scratches but excellent overall condition.

A similar example, held by the Art Institute of Chicago, is shown in Chickering, plate 52; page 111.

Italian, Florence circa 1880. What makes an object extraordinary? In the case of a sculpture, it must be well modelled. Then, it must be cast by a capable founder so that every last detail of the clay model is captured in the metal. Finally, the condition must be flawless. Our bird meets all three criteria without ruffling a feather. Height 2 3/4+ inches, weight 3.44 oz...

length 5 1/4 inches, total Troy weight 5.70 ounces, fine condition, monogrammed as shown in third enlargement.

This lovely old high relief pattern is one of R & B's best designs.

length 4 3/4 inches, weight .34 oz. Troy each, excellent original condition, monogrammed as shown, retailed by Boston's own Shreve Crump & Low.

You'd be hard pressed to find better examples than these.

length 6 1/4 inches, monogrammed "LES" script obverse, fine condition, retailed by The Cowell & Hubbard Co.

length 5 5/8 inches, weight 4.22 Troy ounces, monogrammed as shown, some very light scratches on blades (see third enlargement) but fine overall condition.

For those of you who favor comparison shopping, check out prices (69.00 each) over there on the Bay of Ease.

length 10 1/2 inches, no monogram, handles in excellent condition, marked as shown in photos 4 and 5.

Before you get all steamed up about what an incredible bargain these are (those folks who Replace your stuff want 199.95 each, on ebay), dear reader, allow me to draw your attention to the blades, which are steel and have some pitting (we've shown this in unflinching detail; see second enlargement). They are also "pinned" in place which would make replacing them complicated...